Could Chequessett Neck Road be known as Windspire Beach?
The conservation commission on Feb. 2 approved four notices of intent for four, 30-foot, home-based wind turbines that could join one already in place.
The first such Windspire wind turbine, at 23 feet tall, was installed on the Moore property at 975 Chequessett Neck Road in late 2009.
Windspire wind turbines are marketed as "appropriate for urban, suburban and rural environments," according to the company's Web site. The application for that one and the four new ones was submitted by Mark Robinson, president of New Day Energy of Kingston, which will install them at the Currier/Anstine properties at 1015 and 1045 Chequessett Neck Road, and at the Eurich property at 1065 Chequesset Neck Road, providing the zoning board of appeals approves them at its March 3 meeting.
Robinson said the wind turbine would provide up to 30 percent of the electrical needs of a single family home.
As for the Moore's wind turbine, Robinson told the commissioners that he's a little disappointed with the way it has been working, but said he hopes to improve its performance by raising it from 23 to 30 feet.
Terry Gyps, commission chairman, wondered how much maintenance the Windspires require.
The small turbines can be installed on a half-acre of land, and several can be installed at one location as long as there is a minimum distance of 10 feet between them, he noted.
Hillary Greenberg, health and conservation agent said if a turbine fell down, it might slide down the coastal bank.
The turbines have no propellers. They operate silently, generating power when the wind blows against its vertical airfoils and causes them to spin. The power is converted into AC electricity that is immediately able to power the house's grid and all the appliances. Robinson estimated in 2009 that the The Moores' turbine would cost them $4,000 after tax credits and would save them $6,000 in their electrical bills over 15 years.
While bird strikes have been reported with industrial wind turbines that have propellers, Robinson said there have been no recorded bird strikes at any of the 6,700 Windspire locations.
