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Narragansett Wind Project W. Michael Sullivan, Director Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Saturday March 7, 2009. Narragansett Wind Project W. Michael Sullivan Thomas Getz-Lisa Lawless-James McGinn-Joe DIas RIDEM Narragansett Town Council-Town Manager-
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Narragansett Wind Project W. Michael Sullivan, Director Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Saturday March 7, 2009 Narragansett Wind Project W. Michael Sullivan Thomas Getz-Lisa Lawless-James McGinn-Joe DIas RIDEM Narragansett Town Council-Town Manager- Assistant Town Engineer Mayor of Providence
Considerations/Situations • Should DEM encourage renewable energy Projects? • What is the use of energy in State facilities? • What are the strategic regional needs? • What forms of Renewable Energy might work? • What are the social issues involved?
Walk the Talk • DEM must demonstrate renewable energy. • Use of energy • camping–boating-fishing-sewerage treatment • Waves – solar - wind
Wind Power Opportunities • RI Winds Phase I Siting Report • Narragansett was identified as having sufficient onshore winds • DEM owns and operates facilities that use energy in that Town • The Town had adjacent priority facilities • Voila! An opportunity
Zoning Language • Zoning is a device of land useregulation used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another. Zoning may be use-based (regulating the uses to which land may be put), or it may regulate building height, lot coverage, and similar characteristics, or some combination of these.
Wind Turbine Siting Standards • No existing state of federal siting criteria • Are existing criterion valid? • What factors should be used for wind turbine siting criteria?
DEM Siting Factors • Property Set Back Distances • Avian • Icing • Public Safety
DEM Siting Factors • “Noise is in the ears of the beholder!” • Developers need to show they can meet the standard prior to installation
Noise Recommendations Developers of a wind turbine project must: • Conduct neighborhood noise study • Model Noise levels to demonstrate the ability of the project to : • 35DBA in the evening, • Meet 45 DBA in the daytime for residential areas and • Not increase background tonal sound by 3 DB.
Partnership Opportunities • Renewable Energy Fund – EDC • Town of Narragansett • Joint attitudinal Survey • Joint State DEM RFP is a possibility • City of Providence
Summary • Opportunities exist to site renewable energy projects • Partnerships with state/cities/towns are possible • Think small to solve big problems