Ceremony Set to Dedicate MWCC's Wind Turbines

Mount Wachusett Community College will commemorate the start of a new era of sustainability during a wind turbine dedication ceremony on Wednesday, April 27. The event, which coincides with the fourth anniversary of Gov. Deval Patrick's executive order "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings" will take place at 2 p.m. at the main entrance patio at MWCC's Gardner campus.

The college's two new turbines will be dedicated in honor of Congressman John Olver, for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and to Edward R. Terceiro, Jr., MWCC executive vice president emeritus and resident engineer, for his leadership on this project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision.

The event is open to the public and will include remarks from Congressman Olver, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison, State Senator Stephen M. Brewer, and State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, as well as MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, Executive Vice President Emeritus Edward Terceiro, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tina M. Sbrega, and Trustee and Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke.

In March, MWCC activated its two 1.65 MW Vestas V82 turbines, which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand, plus return an additional 30 percent of power back to the grid. The wind project is a collaboration between the college, the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The JK Scanlan Company, Inc. of Falmouth served as general contractors and numerous Massachusetts companies were involved in the construction.

The $9 million project is being funded through $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy grants, $2.1 million from a low interest Clean Renewal Energy Bond (CREB); and $3.7 million from Massachusetts Clean Energy Investment Bonds.