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“The place was packed with people for the Temple [Shalom] hearing,” he said, referring to the controversy to downsize and allow commercial development on the Blue Hill Avenue property. “But I got a standing ovation when I finished my presentation. It was pretty surprising. People really seem to be keen to this. It’s one of the few revenue-positive things going on in the town budget right now.”
The town has begun its feasibility study of the town-owned land where the turbines would be built. There is $65,000 available in a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to undertake the study, which will involve photo simulations of what turbines would look like, according to the Wind Energy Committee’s report.
The committee will hold another public hearing in May to show photo simulations to the public.
“It’s really exciting. The time has come for projects like this,” said Kleiman, an independent environmental consultant who oversaw a similar wind project for Cape Cod.
“I got involved with this because I am a Milton taxpayer, and I believe it will be good for the town financially,” he added. “I also think that a renewable energy project like this will be a great source of pride for Milton residents.”
Town Administrator Kevin Mearn agreed that residents seem to be receptive to the idea of turbines in Milton.
“The public hearing was very well attended,” he said. “I think people know, and are seeing, that we need to move to alternative-energy plans for a multitude of reasons. Most of the feedback seems to be positive. I think people just want to know what it’s going to look like.”
Kleiman said the first step is for Town Meeting to pass a zoning article in May that would allow an overlay for the turbines. The article, submitted by Selectman based on the committee’s recommendations and with Planning Board input, would have up to two turbines being built as high as 480 feet to the top of the blades.
They would have to be set back enough as to not interfere with adjacent property lines and roads, Kleiman said.
“There seems to be a misconception out there about where these would actually be built. They would be out of the way and not really visible or intrusive,” he said.
The committee’s report cites the importance of having “public outreach at every step of the process.”
The report bases its expense and cost-saving analysis on a range of quotes from various firms. According to Kleiman, each turbine would take between $4 million and $4.5 million to install. The energy savings in the first few years would be used to pay off the debt. After that, the town would save around $700,000 per year – just over half of its total yearly consumption – on each turbine.
Each turbine would also cost $20,000 annually to maintain, according to the report.
“Our worst-case scenario is that the town would break even after six or seven years,” the report states. “Many scenarios point to a three- to four-year breakeven.”
But there’s even a scenario the town could break even from day one, according to Kleiman. He said the town could be eligible for a 20-year, zero percent interest bond from the federal government and renewable energy credits for the project.
He said there is also federal stimulus money available that could cover some or all of the cost.
“There’s definitely a lot of stimulus money out there for these projects,” said Mearn. “We’re moving right along. We seem to be right on the wave of securing these types of funds.”
Kleiman said the town might decide whether to go ahead with the project based on various financial factors.
It will be up to the Planning Board to consider a site plan sometime after it is drafted over the summer, according to the committee’s tentative timeline. If the board opts to go ahead with the proposal, the Selectmen would have the final say in November or December.
The Wind Energy Committee will hold its next public hearing Wednesday, May 27.
The Selectmen established the five-person committee in December 2007. Its members are Kleiman, of Otis Street; Daryl Warner, of Buckingham Road; Bill Sullivan, of Adams Street; David Desantis, of Metropolitan Avenue; and Henry MacLean, of School Street.