YOUR COMMENTS

(in case anybody still cares...)

regarding noise-Just visited the windmill today. The turbine was barely audible while standing midway between the hotel and the turbine. The snapping of the flag on the roof was louder thatn the windmill. A passing car would drown out the slight noise that the windmill was making. Absolutely no noise is discernable from inside the building.

Wind was blowing about 10-12 mph and the blades were spinning at about 40 rpm. No overtones, sympathetic vibrations or any other issues that Allan implied might be an issue.

I'll check again when the wind is blowing a little harder
- Pete, Randolph

Mixed feelings on this one. The private owner can do what he wants, as long as it doesn't impact everyone else adversely. Did the wind tower project get the necessary variance from height restrictions in Whitefield? If they don't have to follow the rules, why should anyone else?

At least they're using the power locally, unlike the horrible butchering in the Philips Brook Project, where county residents are subsidizing the transmission of privately generated power out of state, assuming the project ever gets financed or built.
- Barry, Jefferson

I think this is a great Idea. Think of it as going against the grain. In the long run this will help make better profits. Come on, who wouldn't want there son or daughter to check out how innovative we realy are. Also I think that taking a tax credit is smart for any owner to do. Yes this will lead to more money in the pocket, and who likes paying as much as possible out of their company to the goverment anyway.
This is a BOLD move which will create overhead savings and new revenues.
Smart move.

Jeff
- Jeff, Manchester

Pete from Randolph, after nearly 10 years in the energy conservation industry and the holder of many energy related certifications I can tell you that wind energy is not cost effective in Whitefield, having worked at the Mountain View I can tell you the only thing green about this wind turbine is going into the salesman's pocket. I won't bother to repeat my comments concerning noise as it was obviously WAY over your head. It is a good publicity investment and will attract a lot of curiosity seekers but like I said, the only thing green about it is the profit the company will make. And I have to pay for it. Rest assured, the turbines presence will be "felt".
- Allan, Rochester

Fred, you may be right. the turbine will have to run at about a 28% capacity factor (average 28kW output) to cover half of the 500,000 kW-hr used annually by the hotel.

But we don't have to speculate, we will be able to watch online. It will be interesting to see if the output of this windmill is as good as advertised.
- Pete, Randolph

Think, obstructions. Watertower, Hotel, Prospect Mt. Dalton Ridge and Cherry Mt. and the elevation of the tower is under 2000 ft above sea level. That turbine is not going to come close to supplying half the power consumed by the hotel!
- Fred, Lisbon

Hey Allan, what does the average wind speed in Concord have to do with how much power can be generated on a hill top in Whitefield (The highest point for many miles around) The national wind resource database map puts the turbine location in a class 4 ('excellent') zone .

Also, are you aware of the concept of net metering? Grid connected systems?

As far as noise goes, do you think that they may have visited one of the Northwind 100 turbines that are already installed and running in New England to see what the noise implications are before putting one up a couple hundred yards from where paying guests will be sleeping?- Maybe you should take a short drive down to Medford MA and take a look (and listen) at the installation at the McGlynn elementary school, before passing judgement

And if you don't like the idea of public subsidies for renewable energy projects, write to your congressman or state rep. Apparently they have bought into the idea that supporting energy sources besides coal and oil may be a good thing in the long run.
- Pete, Randolph

Any publicity is good publicity. The average wind speed (the only NOAA records are for Concord, 6.7 mph) in Whitefield is not sufficient to provide sustainable Power ( P ) (Power is the amount of current times the voltage level at a given point measured in wattage or watts) to run even a portion of the hotel reliably. Also, the question isn't what decibel level (volume) the turbine runs at but rather what frequency (Hz), and what harmonics (http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/Class/sound/u11l4d.html) is created by this frequency being introduced into the granite subsurface. It will be fun to watch on your computer (how green are you?) though as you are sipping your green tea (oops, I just made a pun) and eating your brie cheese after your little herbal break. If Mr. Diego's mystery owners really are doing this because "It felt like it was the right thing to do" then they will turn down the government (my) money tax credit, your "doing the right thing" ends when it takes money out of my pocket. When they turn down the rebate, I will believe in their commitment.. BTW I have a "gr$$n" bridge for sale, location, Brooklyn, let me know.
- Allan, Rochester

Are you kidding me with some of these comments? The tower for the wind turbine is going next to an existing water tower. I'm sure the placement and design minimized any loss of view.

They will generate 1/2 their electricity needs. I'm sure the payback in dollars is many years(but it will be profitable long term) but it's a great move.
There is no mention of the 30% tax credit for business' so unsure if the $500k is net of tax credits or not.
Good for the environment, good for the electric grid, kudos to them taking an initiative and doing something that is a positive in many ways.
- Kevin, Derry NH

So much for the period feel, with that industrial clunkiness there. Also, I hope it doesn't do what some of the same make in Europe have done, fail explosively in a windstorm when the brakes failed. Those blades go a long way...
- Mike R., Bedford

Now they just have to change the name of the hotel from "Mountain View Grand" to "Mountain View Mediocre."
- NSB, Stark

Lynda

"Do you suppose he backed up those 'feelings' with data to prove the project was viable"

Do you suppose that the Mt View Grand would plunk down $500k based on "faith" or do you think that the MET tower that has been sitting and spinning in the wind for a year now gathering data had something to do with his decision...?
- Pete, Randolph

Assuming Chris had a wind study done and an engineering analysis, he should be fairly successful. I believe this is the only turbine of its size and as distributed generation to be installed in NH. Hopefully, this will lead the way for others.
- Tom Palma, Campton

Chris Diego, the hotel's general manager says he "...felt like it was the right thing to do -- to generate power for the hotel". -- Do you suppose he backed up those 'feelings' with data to prove the project was viable. Probably not. When it comes to wind power, it's all about faith.
- Lynda, Errol