The proposals would be designed to maximize revenue and provide energy needs for the state and the town over the life of the facility. The energy produced from these sites will help to support DEM activities at the Port of Galilee and state camping and beach facilities located in Narragansett.
Rhode Island has abundant wind energy resources and wants to use these resources to maximize the economic development potential inherent in renewable energy projects. The state and the town recognize the benefits of renewable energy, and have set goals to reduce air emissions from the generation of electricity and benefit from long-term electrical energy price stability.
The wind turbines would be limited to the following three DEM controlled properties: Camp Cronin, Black Point, and property on the southwest side of the Galilee Escape Road. The proposed Town of Narragansett properties include the Scarborough Treatment Plant on Ocean Road, adjacent to Scarborough State Beach, and the Department of Public Works site on Westmoreland Street, around half mile east of Mariner Square.
This proposal is supportive of governor Carcieri’s goal to provide Rhode Island with 15 percent of our energy with renewable energy sources by 2012, said DEM director W. Michael Sullivan, PhD. The energy produced at the DEM sites will assist in reducing energy costs associated with the Narragansett beach and camping facilities, along with those at the Port of Galilee.
The Town of Narragansett is excited about the possibility of using wind energy to provide or supplement power at two of our biggest energy using facilities — the Public Works facility, and the Scarborough Wastewater Treatment Facilities. Both in recognition of declining revenue sources, and in terms of reducing our dependence on non-renewable energy, this project represents an important step in our long-term strategic vision for the Town, said Town Manager Jeffry Ceasrine.
Firms with a history of success in major electrical energy facility design and land-based wind power project development can submit proposals for the wind turbine project under the following scenarios:
The developer will own, operate and maintain the turbines and lease property from the state /town. The lease could be a flat payment, a flat payment with a premium payment dependent upon the amount of energy produced, or payment plus the provision of power to state park and/or beach facilities.
The turbines would be jointly owned by state/town and the developer. Revenues from energy production will be split between the partners.
State/town will own the wind turbines and provide payments to the developer based on generated electricity from the units. Other scenarios that could be agreed upon by the state or town and the developer.