Deer Island self-supplies 23% electricity and more than half of its energy needs

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Deer Island, MA
The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority runs the Deer Island Wastewater facility.  The facility is one of the largest energy users in New England.  Deer Island, however, self-supplies 23% of its electricity needs and more than half of its energy demands come from renewable sources.


The wind turbines went online in November 2009.  Gov. Deval Patrick and Mass. Speaker DeLeo and Sen. Petruccelli are reportedly in the tape cut ceremony on August 11, 2009.  The two 35 meter high 600 kilowatts Elecon wind turbines generates electricity along with 100 kilowatts solar power panels, a stream turbine fueled by methane gas recaptured during the wastewater treatment process (anaerobic digestion), and a hydroelectric generator run by treated water flowing through the outfall tunnel.  The $4 million project is partially funded by $400,000 grant from the Mass Technology Collaborate.  Three more wind turbines are planned to be installed on the island according to the company's website.  There are a 100 kw and a 180 kw solar panels installed at the facility.  More 456 kw solar panels are to be installed.


There will be the first White House Forum on Environmental Justice with CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today (Open for Questions: Environmental Justice with CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson)