Fox Islands Wind Power Project - Vinalhaven and North Haven, Maine

1. Energy and Power

2. How expensive is electricity on the Fox Islands and how does that compare with the National average?

3. How much electricity do North Haven and Vinalhaven use in a year?

4. How much energy could wind turbines produce?

5. Do the Fox Islands have enough wind for power generation?

6. How would a wind project be financed?

7. Do wind turbines make noise?

8. Are wind turbines dangerous to birds and bats or other animals?

9. What is the life expectancy of a wind turbine?

10.Are other islands looking at wind power development?

1. Energy and Power

A watt (W) is a measure of power, or work done over some period of time. A kilowatt (kW) is 1,000 watts or about 1.34 horsepower. A megawatt (MW) is 1,000,000 watts.

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a measure of energy, or power used over a period of time. A 100 kW light bulb needs 100 kW to function. Over the course of an hour, the light bulb will need 100 kW for 1 hour or 100 kWh.

2. How expensive is electricity on the Fox Islands and how does that compare with the National average?

The National Average Residential Rate was 11.07 cents/kWh in 2007, 10.85 in 2006.
(From the Energy Information Administration)

The Fox Islands Residential rate is currently 28 cents/kWh.

3. How much electricity do North Haven and Vinalhaven use in a year?

In 2007, Fox Islands Electric Cooperative members used 10.5 million kWh.

4. How much energy could wind turbines produce?

The Fox Islands Electric Cooperative is currently exploring various turbine configurations. Modeling shows that two large wind turbines could produce enough energy to meet or exceed the average annual load on the islands.

On windy days, the turbines would produce more power than could be used on-island. This excess power could be sold to the mainland power grid. On days when the wind isn’t strong enough to generate all the power that the islands need, electricity would be purchased from the mainland.

5. Do the Fox Islands have enough wind for power generation?
Yes. The wind turbines proposed for Vinalhaven will produce electricity beginning at wind speeds of 8.8 mph. Mean wind speeds at the proposed Vinalhaven wind turbine site are around 11.7 mph at an elevation of 131 ft (40 m). Although these speeds are adequate for the installation of wind turbines, additional analysis indicates that wind speeds at a higher elevation of 262 ft (80 m) would be 14.3 mph.

6. How would a wind project be financed?

A Fox Island wind project would be financed with funds from various sources. Currently being explored by the co-op are pre-sale of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs,), passive tax investment, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) “High Energy Cost” grants (A $1.5 million dollar grant application was submitted to the RUS in March. Grant awards have not yet been announced), RUS loans, Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs), equity investment by island individuals, bond offering to island individuals and investment by a developer.

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7. Do wind turbines make noise?

The blades passing through the air can make a “whooshing” sound and mechanical parts or unusual wind currents can produce a steady “hum” or “whine”. However, ambient noise is usually louder than any noise produced by wind turbines and modern wind turbines are significantly quieter than older models.

8. Are wind turbines dangerous to birds and bats or other animals?

Studies suggest that ultrasound from wind turbines does not detectably attract bats. The National Wind Coordinating Committee reported in a 2006 literature study that only 0.01% to 0.02% (or 1 of every 5,000-10,000) of all avian deaths caused by human activities are wind turbine related.

The Fox Islands Electric Cooperative is working with the Maine Audubon Society, the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) to ensure that wind turbines on Vinalhaven would not threaten endangered or protected species, species of special concern or other special flora or fauna. An on-site environmental survey will be conducted by Richard Podolsky and Norman Famous from April 15 to October 15, 2008.

9. What is the life expectancy of a Wind Turbine?

No one knows for sure because the technology is relatively young, but there is general agreement that a new wind turbine will last about 20 years.

10. Are other islands looking at wind power development?

The Swan’s Island Electric Cooperative, which serves Swan’s and Frenchboro, is currently investigating the potential for wind power development. They are now collecting wind resource data. Other islands have expressed strong interest in community wind projects and some island residents have erected turbines of their own.