The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 to provide Winthrop residents with an overview of its plan to construct two wind turbines at the Deer Island Treatment Plant.

The meeting will be held at Deer Island in the Historic Steam Pump Station at 7:00 P.M.

The MWRA has received a “Determination of No Hazard” from the Federal Aviation Administration for construction of two 190-foot, wind turbines which will generate up to 2 million kilowatt hours per year.  The turbines will be located inside the plant, in the parking lot near the egg-shaped digesters.

Winthrop residents are urged to attend this meeting to learn more about this project.

The Deer Island Plant currently self-generates 20% of its electricity needs and more than half of the plant’s energy demand is provided by on-site, renewable generation. The Deer Island Wind Turbine project is an important part of MWRA’s overall strategy to ensure that the facility reaches the goal of 30% by 2020 established by Governor Patrick’s Executive Order 484.

The MWRA has a number of on-going and new renewable energy programs at Deer Island and across the agency, including the recently completed installation of a 100 kilowatt, roof-mounted solar panel system sited on the Residual/Odor Control Building.

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Updated May 20, 2008