Powering Farms with Wind Energy
A Feasibility Study of Operating Wind Powered Greenhouses on Cape Cod conducted by Boreal Renewable Energy Development and Sustainable Automation LLC, is complete and available here for download in PDF form (2.6 MB). It is a large document and may take some time to download.
The study was commissioned by a group of partners including Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, SEMAP, Cape Light Compact, Coonamessett Farm, Mass. Division of Energy Resources, Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources, and Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association. The Cape Cod Economic Development Council funded the study through the Cape and Islands License Plate Fund grants program.
Presentations from the Dec. 7, 2005 Meeting:
On December 7, 2005, a meeting was held in Bourne, MA, to present the results of the study and provide interested farmers with additional information about funding opportunities, regulations, and other issues. The meeting flyer provides details of the day.
For those who were not able to attend the meeting, or those who'd like to be able to digest the information provided at the meeting more thoroughly, the meeting speakers have agreed to allow their presentations to be posted here. These files are PowerPoint presentations converted into PDF's.
- An Introduction to Wind Power for your Farm: Sally Wright, Renewable Energy Research Laboratory, UMass Amherst
- Findings of a Feasibility Study on Wind Powered Greenhouses: Tom Michaelman and Bob Shatten, Boreal Renewable Energy Development
- Pleasant Lake Farm Off-Grid Energy System: Karen and Skipper Lee, Pleasant Lake Farm, Harwich MA
- Small Winds Case Studies from Cape Cod Technical Schools: Richard Lawrence, Cape and Islands Self-Reliance Corporation
- Wind Energy and Farms: Some Helpful Resources: Jan Gudell, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
- Cape Light Compact Renewable Energy Certificates: Joseph Soares, Cape Light Compact
- Distributed Renewable Energy Funding Sources: Jon Abe, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Follow up Sessions
Two follow-up sessions were held to help interested farms move ahead with applications to the two main funding sources for wind projects in our region: USDA Rural Development's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program (Farm Bill Section 9006) and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Renewable Energy Trust.
Friday March 10, 9:00 am-12:00 pm: USDA Rural Development. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program (Farm Bill Section 9006) session. Session included detailed review of a sample application, a discussion of the evaluation criteria used by the USDA, and more. Location: UMass Cranberry Station Library, E. Wareham, MA. Click for the complete meeting invitation. Contact: USDA Rural Development, 508-295-5151 x 203.
Thursday March 16, Session on MTC Large Onsite Renewables Initiative and Small Renewables program. Barnstable County Fair Admin Office. Directions: http://www.barnstablecountyfair.org/directions.html.
- 10 am: Small Renewable Initiative, How to apply (various approaches) and minimum requirements, and review of the application and examples
- 11:30 am: Large Onsite Renewables Initiative, How to apply and minimum requirements, and review of the application and examples.
