Turbines get go-ahead for sewer plant

SOMERSET, NEW YORK - The state has approved putting wind turbines at the town sewage site on Lower Lake Road, a move that could save the town at least $3,000 a year.

The approval was confirmed by Jeffrey Gordon, spokesman for New York State Energy Research Development Authority.

The state originally approved a $134,715 grant for the town to put the twin wind towers in the wooded area near town hall, but residents objected to the site, and the town board requested a site change.

“That’s by far the best place to put it, because we’ll get greatest amount of power output,” said Supervisor Richard Meyers.

There are several steps in the process, but Meyers hopes the town will have its first commercial wind turbine by fall.

“We’re very pleased New York state did that, that NYSERDA made the shift,” said resident James Hoffman, who spoke against the town hall site. “We’ll get more output and will preserve our woods.”

Meyers learned of the scope change approval from project manager Tracy Hemmerling.

The tower will be the first commercial wind turbines in the town. There is a privately owned windmill built at the Dalrymple home on Lake Road. The 100-foot tower and turbine was built three years ago.

“It’s wonderful,” Hope Dalrymple said. “I’d like to put up another.”

The first grid-tied turbine in Niagara County was installed by her brother, Frank Westgate, and Dalrymple said there have been no maintenance issues.

“It’s low-maintenance,” said Westgate, a Delphi worker who anticipated turbine power might become his full-time profession. Electric output is not as great as anticipated, but the turbine puts out about 9,000 kilowatts a year.

The townÂ’s windmills will look like DalrympleÂ’s tower, according to Meyers, but will be an upgraded model and be 20 feet higher. Because the turbines will be closer to the lake, they will produce an estimated an 35,000 kilowatts annually. ThatÂ’s 10 percent more than the turbines would have proposed near town hall.

Westgate, who hired a crane operator and electrician, said the tower goes up in a day. However, cement foundations for guy wires and the platform must be put down a month before. DalrympleÂ’s turbine, blades and tower were made in Oklahoma, and Westgate make periodical inspections.

The town project is part of a federal stimulus program and one of several grants given throughout the state. “Hopefully we’ll move as quickly as possible,” Gordon said. “It will reduce energy cost of the sewer plant by more than 18 percent.”

Gordon said the turbines will provide 18.5 percent of the electric power for the sewage plant. The annual savings to the town will be $3,000 or more.

The total project will cost about $150,000, and the town is responsible for 10 percent of the cost, or about $15,000.

The town must first send a project package to the state. After the state approves, the town board will sign off on it and put the bid out to contractors.

The supervisor said the paperwork may take longer than physically putting up the towers. “This is a substantial grant, but it shouldn’t take too long,” he said.