SEARSBURG, Vt. - Free tours will be offered at Green Mountain Power Corp.’s renewable energy wind facility in Searsburg, Vt., on Saturday, Sept. 8.The Center for Ecological Technology, based in Pittstfield, Mass., coordinates the tours, which start at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Berkshire Renewable Energy Collaborative sponsors the tours.
The wind farm, located on Searsburg Mountain, was the one of the first commercial-scale wind power facilities constructed in the Northeast. Since 1997, eleven 550-kilowatt wind turbines have been producing electricity. Tour guides from Vermont Environmental Research Associates will cover topics ranging from the selection of the site, public acceptance, how the technology works, wildlife protection and the potential for wind power in this region.
“This is a unique opportunity to visit a wind farm that produces as much as 14 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually. Seeing the turbines up close gives visitors a chance to better understand this clean, local form of energy production,†said Nancy Nylen, associate director of CET and coordinator of BREC. “The tours also give residents from communities that are considering wind power a chance to see firsthand what’s involved.â€
Tour guides will cover issues that may affect the energy future of the Berkshires and participants will be able to ask questions. The Searsburg wind facility is only open for tours on a limited basis between July and October because it includes a protected black bear habitat.
Additional tours are planned for Wednesday, Sept. 19, Wednesday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 13.
Space is limited to 20 individuals per tour. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting CET at 413-445-4556 Ext. 25 or at cynthiag@cetonline.org. Directions to the site will be provided.
BREC is an ad hoc committee comprised of individuals representing educational, environmental, community and business interests. For more than they years, they have been working to promote energy conservation and increase the availability of renewable energy in the region. CET coordinates the activities of the BREC.
Support for this event comes from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. CET is an equal-opportunity service provider and is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant
Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building.
"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu.
A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building.
White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.
He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns.
Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot.
A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use.
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