Nahant energy board supports new Causeway light poles

NAHANT – If a town committee has its way, light poles on the Nahant Causeway could look like large pinwheels to passing motorists.Deerpath Energy Inc., a small start-up company based in Marblehead, is proposing installing new light poles and light fixtures on the Causeway fitted with small wind turbines.Selectman Mike Manning, who is also chairman of the Nahant Alternative Energy Committee, said the committee voted unanimously to support the effort.Manning pointed out the decision to install the wind turbines rests with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation because it is state-owned property.”Our thinking is it would fit in well with the Nahant Causeway reconstruction project,” he said. “The benefits as we see it is it would reduce reliance on power from coal fired power plants and other forms of traditional energy. It is something the state could undertake that would benefit the environment without costing the state or town any money. It would be a small first step to see how wind turbines could become part of our energy usage.”Manning said the wind turbines, which are approximately 12 feet in diameter, would be mounted on top of new light poles that would be installed by Deerpath at no cost to the state or town.”Deerpath would own the light poles,” he said. “They would take care of construction costs and maintain them.”Kelly Warner, the owner of Deerpath Energy, said his company is working to bring the new technology to communities and install the small turbines in groups.”The Causeway is the perfect site for this application,” he said. “It is a wide open space and there is nothing blocking the wind. The turbines will be visually attractive on street lights and will not create a visual nuisance.”Warner said the smaller wind turbines have a lot of advantages over larger wind turbines.”The shape of the blades is designed to make them quieter,” he said. “Because the blades are smaller birds are able to keep them in their line of sight. Studies have shown sliding glass doors are more of a hazard to birds than these wind turbines. I think it’s a really exciting project and will be an important project in demonstrating the viability of green energy technology in this region.”Warner said the turbines are manufactured by Southwest Wind Power, which has been making turbines for more than 20 years.”This is their latest generation of wind turbine,” he said. “More than 2,000 have been installed across the country.”Warner said if the Causeway project is approved his company would handle the installation.”One of the initial designs we have is mounting the turbine on street light poles and parking lot poles,” he said. “We’d beef up the foundation and put up new poles.”Warner said the proposed wind turbines would generate more power than is required to power the street lights.”The turbines would tie into a power grid,” he said. “What we’re shooting for is an agreement with the state to purchase the power generated by the turbines. It would be cheaper than purchasing traditional energy from an existing utility.”