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Dorchester, MA, May 26, 2009 — The winds that blew
clipper ships into the Boston Harbor will soon provide light and power
for the city that remains on the leading edge of economic development
— Boston. As Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino's vision of a sustainable
future takes shape, the city today announced that it is examining the
feasibility of wind power in the Boston
Harbor Islands. The first feasibility study will be conducted on
Moon Island and benefits from leading-edge wind assessment technology
donated by Massachusetts-based Second Wind Inc.
City of Boston officials, Second Wind staff, and project engineers pose with Second Wind's Triton Sonic Wind Profiler in front of the 100kW wind turbine at Boston's IBEW Local 103. Left to right: Eric G. Nelson, Weston & Sampson; Susan Giordano, Second Wind; Elizabeth Kennedy, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative; Wilson Rickerson; City of Boston, Bradford Swing, City of Boston; Larry Letteney, Second Wind; and James W. Hunt III,, Boston's Chief of Environmental and Energy Services.
At a press conference in front of the 100 kW wind turbine at the IBEW Local 103, the city thanked Massachusetts-based Second Wind Inc. for donating the use of its Triton
Sonic Wind Profiler to conduct wind studies at Moon Island, the first planned site.
"Wind assessment is an important component of our wind siting study," said Jim Hunt, Boston's Chief of Environmental and Energy Services. "In this study, we are benefitting from the most advanced wind resource assessment technology to get much more data about what the wind is doing."
Second Wind develops technology for the global wind industry. Second Wind's Triton is an advanced, portable sodar system that bounces sound waves off the atmosphere to measure wind speed and direction up to 200 meters high. Replacing a 60- or 80-meter meteorological tower and providing much more data, the Triton is changing the way the wind industry does site assessments.
"We're pleased to be benefiting from locally grown, leading-edge technology in our wind energy program," says Hunt. "Second Wind and other green tech firms are one of the Boston area's best resources for economic development and for a more sustainable future."
Tim Clarke, Second Wind's Support Manager, demonstrates features of the Triton Sonic Wind Profiler to onlookers.
The City's wind feasibility study on Moon Island is funded by a $21,500 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Renewable Energy Trust.
Gov. Deval Patrick set a goal in January of developing 2,000 megawatts
of wind energy capacity by 2020 – enough to power 800,000 Massachusetts
homes. "Rapid, efficient wind prospecting is critical to meeting the Commonwealth's
wind energy goals," said Second Wind's Chief Operating Officer, Larry
Letteney. "The Triton, in conjunction with our SkyServe® web-based
software, offers clear and accurate information about the wind
potential of a target site. We look forward to working with the Massachusetts
wind community to deliver 2,000 megawatts."
About Second Wind Inc.
Founded in 1980, Second Wind Inc. advances the use of wind data to make wind energy more profitable for owners, painless for operators and practical for consumers. Key products include: Nomad® data logger and tower systems; Triton® sodar systems; SkyServe® satellite wind data service and Phaser® power transducers. Second Wind is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, and is privately held. For more information on the Triton sonic wind profiler or SkyServe satellite wind data service and Second Wind's other products, visit www.secondwind.com.
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