Solar Energy for the Wellfleet Library
Fund Raising Drive
Wellfleet Public Library
55 West Main Street,
Wellfleet, MA 02667
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In conjunction with a possible Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
grant that would cover approximately 60% of the cost, the Wellfleet Library has launched a project to put solar panels on its roof to reduce its electric
bills and reliance on fossil fuels, and to lead Wellfleet toward a greener future. The library has received a generous,
anonymous challenge donation of $30,000 and is close to raising a $30,000 matching amount. This should cover a 14 kilowatt
photovoltaic system that would provide much of the Library's electric needs.
Wellfleet released their RFP for a Library PV project, and received responses that are within the budget.
It is now evaluating the proposals.
Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Mass Audubon has renovated and added to its Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary by creating needed classroom and office
space. The new building is a model of green design and energy efficiency, and features passive heating
and cooling, innovative water management, daylighting and environmentally sound materials.
The new nature center building at Wellfleet Bay, open since June 2006, has recently been awarded the
U.S. Green
Building Council's (USGBC) Platinum certification, its highest designation for high-performing green buildings.
The project is a LEED Gold certifiable project under the LEED Rating System, a national green building guideline.
Mass Audubon installed 21 kW of solar photovoltaic panels, a solar water heating system, and additional energy
efficiency elements. The construction was partly funded by the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative .
Mass Audubon has also completed a
technical assessment for on‐site wind power generation at Wellfleet Bay in October 2007. The
report affirmed Wellfleet Bay's capacity to accommodate an on‐site wind power generation system, within certain
physical, financial, and regulatory conditions. However, site design parameters related to noise and wildlife may
limit the scale of these renewable energy systems, given the site's dedicated purpose and role as a wildlife sanctuary.
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The town's website is available here.
In July 2005, Wellfleet created an
Alternative Energy
Committee. In January, 2009 the selectmen revised the name and scope of the committee to be the Wellfleet Energy
Committee.
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Energy Committee Members
|
|
NAME |
AFFILIATION |
|
Drew Brown |
citizen |
|
Griswold Draz |
|
|
MacGregor Hay |
FinCom Rep |
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Paul Banner |
citizen |
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Kathryn Hubby |
alternate |
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Michael May |
BOS Rep |
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James Sexton |
citizen |
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Peter Stewart |
alternate |
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Paul Weber |
citizen |
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NStar provides power delivery services to all Wellfleet electricity consumers. The table and charts below depict electricity
consumption (in kWh) in Wellfleet from 2003 to 2007 and show the types of usage. The information is provided
courtesy of NSTAR.
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Year |
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
|
Residential |
20,358,310 |
20,150,346
|
20,251,775
|
19,318,175
|
19,747,832
|
|
Commercial / Industrial |
7,380,076
|
7,486,009
|
7,494,916
|
7,214,744
|
15,094,797
|
|
Street Lighting |
154,075 |
155,361
|
161,412
|
147,665
|
151,720
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The Cape Light Compact (CLC) tracks information on all its energy efficiency programs on a town-by-town basis. For
Wellfleet, the Cape Light Compact efficiency report
shows an annual kWh savings of 151,656 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 Wellfleet 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) system was installed at the Wellfleet elementary school.
The solar panel at the Wellfleet elementary school reports the daily, weekly, and monthly
solar panel performance.
Town Hall Solar Panels
Wellfleet was one of the 1st towns in the Commonwealth to get a grant to purchase solar panels for town hall. This
was done with no cost to the town, and the panels are located on the green in front of town hall.
Wellfleet Library Solar Panels
Wellfleet has raised funds for solar panels for the library. The RFP for the project has been released and the
proposals are being evaluated. See above.
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At the end of 2007, Wellfleet had no wind energy production.
Municipal Wind Turbines
The town erected a MET tower in the White Crest Beach area and
collected data for one year. The tower and the subsequent analysis by the engineering firm,
Black and Veatch, was funded by the Mass Technology Collaborative. The wind study showed that three sites within
the White Crest Beach area had favorable high winds.
The town is now considering the installation of one to three wind turbines similar to the Vesta V-82 or GE 1.65
MW. At the current time, it is leaning towards a single wind turbine for financial reasons.
The Wellfleet Energy Committee has worked with the Planning Board to revise the town bylaws to permit wind turbines
to be erected. The current zoning bylaw has height restrictions that do not permit structures as tall as wind turbines.
The Energy Committee submitted to the selectmen a draft zoning bylaw amendment for the annual town meeting
that provides for municipal wind turbines up to 400 feet in height.
The financial analysis has indicated that wind turbines would be extremely favorable for the town.
In addition, the Committee is considering whether the town should join the
Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative. The wind turbine project would then be run by the cooperative. The turbine would net meter and sell back
excess energy to the cooperative. The cooperative has economies of scale, technical management capabilities, and
the ability to borrow money at a lower rate than the town, which makes this alternative worth exploring.
Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Wind Turbine
A MET test tower was erected to measure wind velocity at Wellfleet Bay. The
tower collected data from September 2006 to October 2007. The Average Annual Wind Speed at 50 Meters
as observed during the first 12 months of study was 13.02 mph.
A Mass Audubon study for Wellfleet Bay concluded that a wind turbine was feasible, but expressed reservations
about the effect of noise on resident employees, and about potentially unacceptable impact on residential neighbors
at the southern boundary of the sanctuary. A wildlife risk assessment revealed that further study would be necessary
to adequately characterize and quantify potential risks to wildlife that inhabit or pass through the sanctuary.
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 | Harwich | Mashpee | Orleans | Provincetown | Sandwich | Truro | 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 |
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This page was last updated Wednesday February 18, 2009
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Solar PV
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