Massachusetts governor recognizes water authority as renewable energy leader

BOSTON, MA, Aug. 11, 2009 -- Governor Deval Patrick celebrated the installation of two wind turbines at Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's (MWRA) Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning.

"No state agency is leading by example better than the MWRA," he said.

MWRA's Deer Island wind project consists of two 190-foot, 600 kW turbines. These turbines will generate over 2 million kW hours per year and all of the power generated will be utilized on-site. This will save MWRA ratepayers $250,000 a year in energy costs.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick inside the turbine generator.

The Deer Island Treatment Plant currently uses renewable energy to self-generate 23% of its power needs on-site through a combination of a steam turbine generator fueled by digester gas, hydroelectric power generated as the treated water falls into the outfall tunnel, and solar energy. With the addition of these two turbines, Deer Island's self-generation will increase to 26%.

In addition to the wind turbines, MWRA is receiving stimulus funding for a second, 180 kW solar installation on Deer Island. This $1.2 million design/build project is part of the $25 million in Clean Water SRF stimulus funding currently allocated to MWRA by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

MWRA received a "Determination of No Hazard" from the Federal Aviation Administration in April 2008 for these turbines. That Determination also allows for the installation of three additional turbines on Deer Island -- one at time -- after 30 days of successful operation of the previous turbine (i.e. no adverse impacts).

The design/build contract was awarded in October 2008 to Lumus Construction Inc. whose renewable energy division is now part of Solaya Energy.

The $4 million project was funded in part by a $400,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

MWRA received a "Determination of No Hazard" from the Federal Aviation Administration in April 2008 for these turbines. That Determination also allows for the installation of three additional turbines on Deer Island -- one at time -- after 30 days of successful operation of the previous turbine (i.e. no adverse impacts).

The design/build contract was awarded in October 2008 to Lumus Construction Inc. whose renewable energy division is now part of Solaya Energy.

The $4 million project was funded in part by a $400,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

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