Sunday, February 21, 2010
Connecticut's Renewable Energy Sector
On Friday, August 7th, Congressman Christopher Murphy (D) from Connecticut’s 5th District organized an event at the Hill Stead Museum in Farmington, CT in which business leaders from Connecticut’s Renewable Energy sector spoke about the work their companies were involved in. Representatives from Apollo Solar, Fuel Cell Energy, Duracell Battery and Optiwind were present along with Congressman Murphy and former United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner, now Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. Congressman Murphy strongly asserted his belief that Connecticut is well positioned to provide industry leadership in supporting the transformation of how we as a country generate, transmit and consume energy. He pointed out that Connecticut’s highly skilled workforce is a key element and advantage in bringing manufacturing and service sector jobs back to our State to support the anticipated growth in the renewable energy sector in the coming years. Business leaders from Apollo Solar, Fuel Cell Energy, Duracell Battery and Optiwind all enlightened the audience with descriptions of the projects which they were working on. It was exciting to envision the potential synergies that could result if collaboration was elevated between these companies. Carol Browner spoke about her experience as the Administrator of the US EPA, what was taking place on a national level as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, specifically in promoting the technological advancement of renewable energy technologies such as fuel cell, solar, wind, biomass, battery storage and smart grid technologies. See: http://www.fox61.com/news/wtic-renewable-energy-0807,0,5442848.story
A Different Perspective
Smart technology should mimic nature, at least that’s the premise behind biomimetics, a field focused on learning from and incorporating the natural adaptive strategies used by plants or animals in engineering design. Perhaps I was lacking this perspective during my entry last week; "Hartford, CT Shows Litchfield County Unprogressives What it Means to Support Local Business" After reading the entry’s posted comments, some sincere sympathy for the local perspective and some good ol’ fashion 21st Century research on Google, I came to the conclusion that Goshen’s denial of Optiwind’s 300 series model was essentially about two things; design aesthetics and a general lack of confidence from the public in Connecticut’s inland wind energy resources. Hence, biomimetics, or rather “Whale Power”. When googling keywords “biomimetics” and “wind turbines”, I came across an article about a guy named Dr. Frank Fish (no this isn’t a joke). Apparently Dr. Fish was inspired by a sculpture he saw of a Humpback Whale. The result, he "bio-mimicked" the whale’s flipper in his wind turbine blade design which has scalloped edges helping it generate force in tightly banked turns. Check out www.whalepower.com
The Whale Power technology has tremendous potential to advance wind energy technology, especially in areas where wind resources are currently touted as being limited. But how is it that Blanford, MA, a town 40 miles north of Goshen, CT and at approximately the same elevation gets to erect and take advantage of the more majestic three blade turbine while Goshen is stuck with, well, a less than perfect alternative? The answer to this question I will seek to provide, but the take away here is that renewable wind energy technology in inland Connecticut is possible, it just takes a different perspective sometimes to help others see that there’s benefit in having more than one option; in this case Optiwind’s model vs. a traditional 3 blade turbine with Whale Power technology.
The Whale Power technology has tremendous potential to advance wind energy technology, especially in areas where wind resources are currently touted as being limited. But how is it that Blanford, MA, a town 40 miles north of Goshen, CT and at approximately the same elevation gets to erect and take advantage of the more majestic three blade turbine while Goshen is stuck with, well, a less than perfect alternative? The answer to this question I will seek to provide, but the take away here is that renewable wind energy technology in inland Connecticut is possible, it just takes a different perspective sometimes to help others see that there’s benefit in having more than one option; in this case Optiwind’s model vs. a traditional 3 blade turbine with Whale Power technology.
Hartford, CT shows Litchfield County Unprogressives what it means to Support Local Business
Recently the Town of Goshen, CT voted against a wind based energy generating project at 113 Brush Hill Road. Go ahead, map quest it. In my opinion, Goshen’s Planning & Zoning (P&Z) commission’s decision against the project much like the location of the town was way off the map. Yes I agree, Optiwind’s 300 Series model is a bit unorthodox looking compared to the majestic image of a three blade turbine, but the paradox here is that Goshen’s P&Z commission rejected the project proposal citing concerns of adverse effects on the existing neighborhood and property values of the Woodridge Lake Sewer District. That’s right, a neighborhood known as the Sewer District, which looks like it houses a whopping two or three residences if you visit this rural town via Google Earth. But who am I to judge? I’m not a vested property owner concerned about the effect the project could have on the value of my home. I also have the luxury of not having to worry about being kept awake at night by the potential noise generated by the windmill during a breezy evening. I do however pay utility bills and I have heard that it’s expensive installing and maintaining power transmission lines, especially when they’re run way out to rural, environmentally unprogressive towns. So here’s my solution, Optiwind Corporation, www.optiwind.com based out of Torrington, CT should plant its homegrown technology in the fertile soils of the retired Hartford landfill. Who’s going to argue that their 300 Series model is any uglier than the retired landfill? Seriously, this renewable energy technology is a perfect candidate for this location. It’s a win-win; the Capitol City would benefit from some serious Green PR and Optiwind Corporation could expose its technology to millions driving up and down Interstate 91. How many would see it in Goshen, CT?
Come on Connecticut; think innovation, think job growth, think green, THINK WIND!
On April 26th, 2006, the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority (CRRA) held a community meeting to discuss what the future held for the capitol city’s landfill. (See http://www.crra.org/documents/public_records/additional_communications/CRRA_hartford_landfill_future_use_presentation_4-12-2006.pdf) At an elevation of approximately 140 feet above sea level, could the property be turned into a park, offering unique perspectives of the Connecticut River, the capitol skyline and the less than aesthetic rush hour traffic jams?
What about a wind farm, one lone voice exclaimed from the shadows of the world wide web? Not enough wind said the naysayers! But the average wind speed at Brainard Airport right across the river from the landfill at approximately 15 feet above sea level has been recorded at 8 mph and the required cut-in-speed (minimum wind speed at which a wind turbine will generate usable energy) is between 7 and 10 mph. The landfill is habitat to unusual species of birds exclaimed the ornithologists as pigeons and seagulls majestically rose into the smog choked sky. Wind turbines generate noise claimed the community activist threatening to drown out the orchestral of Interstate 91.
Albert Einstein once said “If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."
It is this eccentric optimism with which I pursue my current endeavor; Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm! Think about it, with Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies literally a stones throw away, the manufacturing of the wind turbines for this site could serve as an experimental test run for say something like the Cape Wind project (See www.capewind.org). Who will get the contract to manufacture the 130 wind turbines at about $4.5 million a piece (totaling approximately $585 million) once the permitting is complete and manufacturing and construction is underway in 2010? This concept doesn’t seem so outlandish now does it?
Come on Connecticut; think innovation, think job growth, think green, THINK WIND!
To support this idea, please consider participating by;
Send an e-mail to landfill(at)crra.org with the subject heading “Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm!” or Send a letter to: Hartford Landfill FutureConnecticut Resources Recovery Authority100 Constitution Plaza, 6th Floor, Hartford, CT, 06103 with the subject heading “Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm!”
What about a wind farm, one lone voice exclaimed from the shadows of the world wide web? Not enough wind said the naysayers! But the average wind speed at Brainard Airport right across the river from the landfill at approximately 15 feet above sea level has been recorded at 8 mph and the required cut-in-speed (minimum wind speed at which a wind turbine will generate usable energy) is between 7 and 10 mph. The landfill is habitat to unusual species of birds exclaimed the ornithologists as pigeons and seagulls majestically rose into the smog choked sky. Wind turbines generate noise claimed the community activist threatening to drown out the orchestral of Interstate 91.
Albert Einstein once said “If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."
It is this eccentric optimism with which I pursue my current endeavor; Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm! Think about it, with Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies literally a stones throw away, the manufacturing of the wind turbines for this site could serve as an experimental test run for say something like the Cape Wind project (See www.capewind.org). Who will get the contract to manufacture the 130 wind turbines at about $4.5 million a piece (totaling approximately $585 million) once the permitting is complete and manufacturing and construction is underway in 2010? This concept doesn’t seem so outlandish now does it?
Come on Connecticut; think innovation, think job growth, think green, THINK WIND!
To support this idea, please consider participating by;
Send an e-mail to landfill(at)crra.org with the subject heading “Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm!” or Send a letter to: Hartford Landfill FutureConnecticut Resources Recovery Authority100 Constitution Plaza, 6th Floor, Hartford, CT, 06103 with the subject heading “Turn the Retired Hartford, CT Landfill into a Wind Farm!”
Is Hartford Really New England's Rising Star?
Is Hartford Really New England's Rising Star? This question has lingered in my mind for quite some time now. As Hartford wraps up the major revitalization projects pursued over the last decade, those six pillars of progress, I wonder, how do they support the capitol’s somewhat haughty declaration?
While I’m a big fan of our capitol, its neighborhoods, educational institutions and its cultural and historical assets, it does feel like it’s missing something from its skyline.
The other day while driving on the freeway through Worchester, MA I spotted a wind turbine. While it was not the first wind turbine I’ve ever seen, the mere site of it was invigorating. The Worchester wind turbine stands as a testament that renewable energy technologies are real and that they can be incorporated into our urban, suburban and rural communities.
So what’s missing from Hartford’s skyline; surely not the recently retired landfill that stands as tall as our capitols slogan “Hartford, New England's Rising Star” To earn that recognition requires a lot of work; perhaps the kind that requires a Green Collar?
My proposal is as follows; Employ the researchers necessary to conduct a fast track, cut the red tape, feasibility study for using the 80 acre Hartford landfill property as a wind and solar farm.
Hartford doesn’t have the wind resources necessary you say; Check out http://www.awstruewind.com/files/CT_report.pdf page #4 where it talks about the wind speed at Brainard Airport (right across the river) at 13 meters, approximately 40 feet high at 3.7 meters per second or 8.7 miles per hour. I wonder what the data loggers would read at 80 feet or 150 feet?
Imagine the pride Connecticut residents would feel driving into the capitol city seeing a majestic renewable energy technology such as a wind turbine(s) creating clean, green, homegrown energy.
Two things I am sure of, are one, that when Adrian Block, the Dutch explorer first discovered the area now known as Hartford in 1614, I’m sure his ship harnessed a sail to assist him in making it up the tidal river and two, that being from the Netherlands, where wind turbines had already been in use for over 200 hundred years, the same natural resource that powered exploration and innovation then is still present now and capable of being employed to solve the problems inherent in todays Energy and Climate Era.
While I’m a big fan of our capitol, its neighborhoods, educational institutions and its cultural and historical assets, it does feel like it’s missing something from its skyline.
The other day while driving on the freeway through Worchester, MA I spotted a wind turbine. While it was not the first wind turbine I’ve ever seen, the mere site of it was invigorating. The Worchester wind turbine stands as a testament that renewable energy technologies are real and that they can be incorporated into our urban, suburban and rural communities.
So what’s missing from Hartford’s skyline; surely not the recently retired landfill that stands as tall as our capitols slogan “Hartford, New England's Rising Star” To earn that recognition requires a lot of work; perhaps the kind that requires a Green Collar?
My proposal is as follows; Employ the researchers necessary to conduct a fast track, cut the red tape, feasibility study for using the 80 acre Hartford landfill property as a wind and solar farm.
Hartford doesn’t have the wind resources necessary you say; Check out http://www.awstruewind.com/files/CT_report.pdf page #4 where it talks about the wind speed at Brainard Airport (right across the river) at 13 meters, approximately 40 feet high at 3.7 meters per second or 8.7 miles per hour. I wonder what the data loggers would read at 80 feet or 150 feet?
Imagine the pride Connecticut residents would feel driving into the capitol city seeing a majestic renewable energy technology such as a wind turbine(s) creating clean, green, homegrown energy.
Two things I am sure of, are one, that when Adrian Block, the Dutch explorer first discovered the area now known as Hartford in 1614, I’m sure his ship harnessed a sail to assist him in making it up the tidal river and two, that being from the Netherlands, where wind turbines had already been in use for over 200 hundred years, the same natural resource that powered exploration and innovation then is still present now and capable of being employed to solve the problems inherent in todays Energy and Climate Era.
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