20 WIND ENERGY PROJECTS RECEIVE $2.5 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) today announced grants supporting 20 new wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative.

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC) today announced grants supporting 20 new wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative.
 
“These grants will allow communities and institutions to reduce their use of fossil fuels, as well as help the Commonwealth reach Governor Patrick’s goal of developing 2,000 megawatts of wind power capacity by 2020,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, who serves as chairman of the CEC board of directors.
 
The CEC board of directors approved the grants totaling more than $2.5 million. Today’s awards includes design and construction grants for six new wind projects totaling more than 12 megawatts (MW) in capacity, and 14 feasibility studies for wind energy that would total more than 13 MW in capacity if built. The 20 grants go to public and private projects, educational institutions, cities and towns, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative is a program of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, which is funded by renewable energy charges on electric bills, generating roughly $24 million a year to support renewable energy installations and companies.
 
“Through the Community-Scale Wind initiative, the Trust supports the installation of wind turbines for private and public institutions as well as studies to determine the feasibility of wind power in additional locations,” said Trust Director Carter Wall.
 
The six projects receiving design and construction grants are in the towns of Charlton, Plymouth, Brewster, Harwich, and Milton. Awards for the 14 feasibility studies go to the town of Auburn, Bristol Community College, Chesterfield-Goshen Regional School District, Endicott College, the town of Gardner, Gordon College, the town of Lenox, the MBTA, Nantucket Public Schools, Spencer East Brookfield Regional School District, the town of Northborough, and the city of Salem.
 
Following Commonwealth Solar – the first Trust program defined by technology type – Commonwealth Wind is the new name for Trust grant programs that support wind energy projects. Commonwealth Wind’s Community-Scale initiative supports wind projects of at least 100 kilowatts in size; its Micro-Wind initiative provides rebates for the installation of wind projects of up to 100 kilowatts, typically for residential, small commercial or agricultural sites.