One of two electricity-generating wind turbines is up and operating at the Rose City Senior Center, generating about enough electricity to power a single-family home. Norwich Public Utilities officials held a press conference at the senior center this morning to announce that the unit is operational and a second different style wind turbine will be installed within the next two months.
The familiar blade style unit in the Mahan Drive senior center parking lot is 45 feet tall and with the blades about 12 feet in diameter. At peak winds of 23 mph, the unit will generate 2.4 kilowatts of electricity sent directly to the senior center.
The second unit will look much different. At only 25 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter, the unit will resemble horizontally spinning ribbon-like blades to produce about 1 kilowatt of power, said Jeff Brining, energy services division manager for NPU.
The entire project, built by Bonner Electric, Inc. of Montville, cost $67,000, including utility connections to the senior center. Energy generated, however, is only expected to save about $2,000 per year in energy costs. Brining said those totals make such units not cost effective for homeowners, but for the municipally owned utility, the project provides several opportunities.
The units will be visible at the senior center, which is not the windiest part of Norwich – that's the top of Plain Hill. The project also will allow partnerships with the newly renovated Kelly Middle School across the street on Mahan Drive. A video display will be set up in the school, and students will learn "real time" and historical energy output from the turbines.
