Gailes helps make wind power a reality for North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN — As the town looks further into options for erecting a wind turbine to supply a portion of its own electricity, the most viable route may be for the town to do it on its own.

A consultant and the availability of state grant funds have provided a conservative route to take into essentially uncharted territory. But Selectman Thomas Gailes has been doing a lot of research of his own, while working with turbine manufacturers and experts.

He remains convinced a lengthy and expensive analysis of sustained winds at the transfer station site is not needed; and he may have found that the installation can be done so inexpensively, it would be worth jumping right in.

He dropped a bombshell of a development during an Aug. 4 board meeting. He has discovered an operating turbine in the region. He declined to name the owner or location at this point. But observation and discussions have led him to a conclusion.

“If we could duplicate what I’ve seen, a system that is operating now and would be big enough to supply electricity to the transfer station, we could do it for under $10,000,� Gailes said.

The board is planning to use at least a portion of  a $90,000 payment to the town from the Enron settlement to fund the project. That doesn’t mean the selectmen plan to throw money at the project without careful consideration.

“No matter where the money comes from, we can’t spend a lot to save a little,� Gailes said.

The Board of Selectmen is also considering a wind turbine site behind North Canaan Elementary School. The main goal is to provide some or all of the school’s electricity needs — an $86,000 line item in this year’s budget. It would be possible to supply power to the school from the transfer station, but the cost of distribution between the two sites would outweigh savings.

Gailes plans to continue to investigate the local installation. He calls it a “local phenomenon,� because it defies what the big wind turbine manufacturers say is impossible: collecting adequate sustained winds in virtually any part of Connecticut.

The board is also being careful not to set its sights too keenly on grant money. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has already begun cutting back on grants toward solar installations, as they become more common.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) was created in 2000 by the Connecticut Legislature. Its goal is to educate state residents about green alternatives, and to invest in promising green energy providers.

Consultant Walter Micowksi of WM Energy Services said representatives from CCEF did indicate to him that money is available for wind power installations, if and when a town comes forward with a proposal.

A percentage of any grant funding is the verbal agreement Micowski has with the town. He has been up front in saying that his main goal is to establish consulting jobs with commercial and private entities in the area. The selectmen are highly supportive of a general move toward green energy.

But they took issue with an invoice from Micowski for just under $1,000. He explained he didn’t intend for the town to pay the invoice at this time, but that it was more of a record of the work he has done to date. At the board’s request, he stated on the record that he is not charging the town anything unless it receives grant funds.

The two entities may soon be required to part ways, anyway. Micowski said he is working with numerous area businesses on serious plans for wind turbines. When that happens, he will be representing them in applications before local planning agencies. Consulting for the town at the same time would be a conflict of interest.