Lenox moves on wind project

By Claire CoxPrint Story | Email Story
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.” 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].” “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.” 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 Announces New Supplier for Energy Program

DALTON, Mass. – The Town of Dalton has signed a thirty-four month contract with a new supplier, First Point Power.
 
Beginning with the January 2026 meter reads, the Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new rate of $0.13042 per kWh. The Program will also continue to offer an optional 100 percent green product, which is derived from National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), at a rate of $0.13142 per kWh.
 
For Dalton residents and businesses who are enrolled in the Town's Program, the current rate of $0.13849 per kWh will expire with the January 2026 meter reads and the new rate of $0.13042 per kWh will take effect. This represents a decrease of $5 per month on the supply side of the bill given average usage of 600 kWh. Additionally, this new rate is 3 percent lower than Eversource's Residential Basic Service rate of $0.13493 per kWh. Residents can expect to see an
average savings of $3 per month for the month of January 2026. Eversource's Basic Service rates
will change on Feb. 1, 2026.
 
Dalton launched its electricity program in January 2015 in an effort to develop an energy program that would be stable and affordable. From inception through June 2025, the Program has saved residents and small businesses over $1.7 million in electricity costs as compared to Eversource Basic Service.
 
It is important to note that no action is required by current participants. This change will be seen on the February 2026 bills. All accounts currently enrolled in the Program will remain with their current product offering and see the new rate and First Point Power printed under the "Supplier Services" section of their monthly bill.
 
The Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program has no fees or charges. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.
 
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