Meeting set to discuss possible wind turbine along lakefront

From a letter to the editor by Matt Howard, a new resident of Bay View, as well as the Environmental Sustainability Director for the City of Milwaukee, in the Bay View Compass:

My name is Matt Howard, a new resident of Bay View, as well as the Environmental Sustainability Director for the City of Milwaukee. My office is exploring the feasibility of constructing a wind turbine in Bay View on Port property to supply the Port with clean, renewable energy. I wanted to give you some basic information on the options we’re exploring so that we as a community will have a more fruitful discussion next Thursday evening. (Thanks to Ald. Zielinski for organizing this meeting on my behalf.)

The purchase and construction of this turbine would be fully paid for through federal grant funds my office administers, as well as potential incentive contributions from Focus on Energy and We Energies. The federal grant can only be used for energy saving and renewable energy projects. We are looking at two possible site options on city-owned land near the lakefront: next to the Port Administration building at 2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive and next to the Lake Express Ferry terminal building. These sites are at the top of our list because (1) they are high visibility sites and thus could be a bold demonstration of the City’s commitment to renewable energy, (2) are somewhat removed from residences, and (3) just as importantly, the wind profile at these sites is among the best in the region.

The wind turbine options we are exploring are commercial scale (not utility scale) and, as a result, could range in total height from 115 ft to 156 ft, are 20 kW to 100 kW systems, and would generally be free from the noise and vibration associated with older, larger wind turbines. This is less than half the height of the utility scale turbines you may have seen in Fond du Lac County. Both wind turbines under consideration are made in the USA. We are diligently running economic analysis to ensure we wisely spend tax payer dollars.

Posted in: Wind