Link to Boston Globe article published July 15, 2008

I met with David Rabkin at the museum of Science on Wednesday 7/9/2008 to learn about the wind energy project that they want to start within the next year. It would involve installing an array of small wind turbines made by several manufacturers on the roof of the museum and monitoring them for a year or more. It seems that there is a major lack of hard data on the performance of small scale wind energy equipment. They would like to help change that. Right now the main source of information is from the manufactures themselves.

Without much more reliable information, it will remain difficult to get any major increase in usage of this technology. Utilities, regulators (such as local and state zoning and building code authorities), lenders, contractors, and consumers need more information in order to make responsible decisions on the subject.

As a prelude to installation they have recorded the wind speeds at six spots on their roof to determine the best locations. The museum plans to monitor and record data on efficiency of electricity production, economics, noise, vibration, icing, the effect on birds and bats, and public response. They plan to hold a series of public forums to gauge neighbor's reactions and to provide information as it becomes available.

The City of Boston has told them that they will need a zoning variance regarding "change of use" (?) to proceed. Cambridge officials have said that they think they will also need a variance, but have not told them which section of the zoning ordinance would be violated by the installation. My wife who is fairly familiar with Cambridge zoning matters pulled out the ordinance and could not find anything that would make a variance necessary. If they do run into zoning problems, please write to the Board of Zoning Appeals to express your support of this project. We need to have a zoning ordinance that deals with this technology intelligently so we can start getting off of fossil fuels more quickly. The City Council enacts zoning regulations, and maybe they need to add a section to the ordinance to enable more wind power generation in the city. If so the data generated by the Museum of Science study should prove very useful.

They will be collaborating with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Boston University and the Massachusetts Audubon Society among others on the project.