Woody Printz represented the town of Richmond. (Photo By Claire Cox)
LENOX – A committee will start exploring potential sites on Sunday for what would be the county’s first municipally-owned wind power project.
A Wind Tower Subcommittee of the town’s Environmental Committee met at Town Hall on June 15 to outline a timetable that, if successful, could bring wind power to Lenox within two years.
The meeting, called by Town Manager Gregory Federspiel and Jamie Cullihane, facilitator of the Environmental Committee, was attended by resident Richard Gregg and Woody Printz, an engineer who represented the town of Richmond, which may be invited to participate in the project.
Selectmen have authorized a study of the feasibility of installing a 1.5-megawatt windmill in the town as an economically and ecologically sound way to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
“This will be a fairly lengthy process, if it goes at all,†Federspiel said. “It will take about a year to analyze the potential, and from there it’s a couple of years’ process. The next step is for us as a committee to try to identify some potential sites.â€
Representatives of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative would then look at the sites and assess their potential, and choose one for the installation of a temporary monitoring tower, known as a MET, to determine its potential for generating electricity. The collaborative would pay for the test tower.
Members of the Wind Tower Subcommittee will hike to the town’s fire tower atop a Lenox peak nearly 2,000 feet high that overlooks Richmond to assess it as a possible site, and to two other potential sites near the town’s two reservoirs.
“My original concept was to put up a tower to power our treatment plant,†Federspiel said. “It’s not that simple. It would just become another generator providing electricity to everybody [on the grid].â€
“If all goes smoothly, by the end of the summer we could have a MET tower erected on one of the sites to start collecting wind data,†he added. “After three or four months of collecting data, the MTC would start to determine whether the site makes sense.â€
The collaborative would formulate a business plan and submit a report that addresses the viability of the project.
“The chances are that it’s going to be viable,†Federspiel said. If the collaborative recommends Lenox pursue a project, the committee would then submit a proposal to the town.
When Printz asked if Richmond could participate in a Lenox wind power project, Federspiel replied, “We would welcome that if Richmond would like to be involved.†He added that collaborative is interested in collaborative efforts.
“My ideal scenario is that this becomes a joint two-town project,†he said.
The Wind Tower Subcommittee probably will make more than one visit to the potential sites and then invite Kristen Burke to come from the MTC office in Westboro on July 7 to make a site inspection and submit her findings to the Selectmen at a meeting that evening.
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
