Harwich has been working on wind turbines since 2002. In that time period, the town has had two separate MET
towers. The first tower, erected in 2002, was privately owned and Harwich did not have access to all the data.
In October 2005, the UMass Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL) conducted a Preliminary Site Analysis
at locations chosen by the municipality to determine an appropriate site to explore feasibility. In July 2006,
the town and RERL erected a temporary MET tower at high school to monitor local wind resources. The town
is considering five locations, the high school, the water department the golf course, the landfill and
the Community Center.
Data from the study determined that the winds are adequate. Unfortunately, proximity to the Chatham airport
resulted in an FAA decision that the turbines cannot exceed 179 feet. The Town is exploring options for a smaller
turbine that will not conflict with federal aviation restrictions, or preferably, locations that will meet
the FAA objections and allow higher towers.
According to Barry Worth, the chairman of the Harwich's Utility and Energy Conservation Committee, the town's
key problem is the site for the turbine. However, the town is working on location that will not impact the
airport.
A warrant article was approved by the special town meeting on 5
Feb 2009 allowing the town to become a member of the Coop.
The town joined the Cape
& Vineyard Electric Cooperative on February 13.
The arrangement that the town would have with CVEC is for the Coop to lease the land from the town, borrow the funds,
build and maintain the wind turbine(s). The town would agree to buy energy at a stabile, low rate for a fixed number
of years. The town is entitled to purchase up to 90% of the energy generated by the turbines for municipal
purposes. This includes all town municipal uses. Any energy generated in excess of the town's needs is used
by the coop to stabilize the rates of other member towns.
The planning committee plans to submit a zoning bylaw for wind turbines to the annual town meeting in May.
In addition, the Harwich is considering a 100kw photovoltaic generator to be financed by a private developer
and leased through the Coop.
The town's website is available here.
Harwich has a Utility and Energy Conservation Comittee.
Members
|
Name
|
Title
|
Term
|
|
Barry Worth
|
Chair
|
|
|
William Doherty
|
|
|
|
Bruce Gibson
|
|
|
|
Robert R. Marshall
|
|
|
|
Valerie Bell
|
|
|
|
Larry Cole
|
Selectmen's Liaison
|
|
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NStar provides power delivery services to all Harwich electricity consumers. The table and charts below depict
electricity consumption in (in kWh) in Harwich from 2003 to 2007 and show the types of usage. The information
is provided courtesy of NSTAR.
|
Year |
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
|
Residential |
59,815,866
|
59,224,127
|
60,821,027
|
58,112,399
|
59,247,343
|
|
Commercial / Industrial |
33,860,163
|
35,045,955
|
35,106,604
|
33,471,483
|
35,029,744
|
|
Street Lighting |
339,489
|
331,993
|
331,673 |
330,953 |
332,286
|
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The Cape Light Compact (CLC) tracks information on all its energy efficiency programs on a town-by-town basis.
For Harwich, the Cape Light Compact efficiency
report shows an annual kWh savings of 828,155 kWh in 2008 as a result of the various CLC energy efficiency
programs.
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The production data below is based on information from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) collected
in support of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). RECs are tradable environmental commodities in the United States
and represent proof that a specified amount of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource.
Photovoltaic and wind energy producers that do not participate in the RECs program are not represented in the data.
The information is valid as of the end of 2007. The charts below show a growing amount of photovoltaic energy being
produced within Harwich from an increasing number of sites.
Click here to review photovoltaic energy production for all towns on
the Cape & Islands.
As part of the Cape Light Compact's
"Solarize
our Schools!" campaign, a 2kW solar photovoltaic (PV) systems was installed at the Harwich Elementary school.
The solar panel at the school shows the daily, weekly, and monthly
solar panel performance.
The charts below shows a growing amount of wind energy being produced within Harwich from an increasing number
of sites.
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
Cape Cod's first grid-connected turbine, a 1.7-kW unit, began operation in June 2005 at Cape Cod Regional Technical
High School. It was installed through a hands-on training session involving Cape & Islands Self-Reliance, Clean
Energy Design, and other local organizations. In its initial 6 months of spinning, the turbine generated more than
1300 kWh, no pollution or greenhouse gases, lots of attention, and valuable learning opportunities. Nearby homeowners
liked its looks so much they are pursuing the town's first residential installation under a new town bylaw. Depot
Development LLC is seeking to install a 20-kW turbine at its facility in North Harwich, with a goal of having the
first privately owned commercial wind project on the Cape.
Photo Source: Clean Energy
Design
|
The photo on the left depicts a 1.2 kWdc pole mounted photovoltaic system.
The main components of the system include:
(4) 300 watt photovoltaic modules
(1) SunnyBoy 1800 power inverter
This system powers the school’s flower shop, located adjacent to the installation.
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, MA
|
Municipal Wind Turbine
In 2005, the Town of Harwich worked with MTC Renewable Energy Trust to
explore the feasibility of
developing a wind turbine project on municipally owned land. The UMass Renewable Energy Research Laboratory
(RERL) conducted a Preliminary Site Analysis at locations chosen by the municipality to determine an appropriate
site to explore feasibility. In July 2006, the town installed a temporary meteorological tower to monitor local
wind resources. Unfortunately, proximity to the Chatham airport and associated height restrictions preclude
developing a commercial scale turbine. The Town decided to explore options for a smaller turbine that will
not conflict with federal aviation restrictions.
In 2008, the again received a grant from the MTC Renewable Energy Trust
to examine municipal wind
turbines. The town has identified five candidate locations as potential areas for the siting of a
wind turbine.
Click here to review wind energy production for all towns on the Cape
& Islands.
For an overview of wind energy on the Cape & Islands, click here.
For more information on wind projects in other communities, click
here.
For the status of community wind projects in other towns, click here.
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Cape Cod | Barnstable | Bourne | Brewster | Chatham | Dennis | Eastham | Falmouth | Mashpee | Orleans | Provincetown | Sandwich | Truro | Wellfleet | Yarmouth |
Martha's Vineyard
For information on the energy situation on Martha's Vineyard,
click here
| Aquinnah | Chilmark | Edgartown | Oak Bluffs | Tisbury | West Tisbury | Nantucket | Nantucket |
Feedback
Information about renewable energy developments is constantly changing. Please
send feedback if you have corrections, updates, or comments for this page please . Suggesstions for additional types of data, information, and
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This page was last updated Wednesday February 18, 2009
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