Scituate, Massachusetts, USA

Scituate, Massachusetts, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable power for the municipality by end of 2013.
  • Status: Achieved
  • RES: One wind turbine and a 3 MW solar array.
  • Implementation: Scituate is a coastal town located between Boston and Plymouth in Massachusetts, USA. It achieve its target of 100% renewable electricity through local wind power and a 3 MW solar array, both constructed in 2012. The wind turbine was installed on town land through a joint venture between Palmer Capital and Solaya Energy. The town signed a 15-year contract to rent out the land and buy the electricity produced by the wind turbine.  In June 2013, the wind turbine was hit by lightening, causing it to go offline and then run partially during repairs. Until that time, the wind turbine had produced 22,000 kWh of power. When the solar array was constructed in 2012 over the town's capped landfill, it provided the additional backup energy. The 30 solar PV systems provided a total capacity of 115.2 kilowatts. Today, the town has 3 electric hybrid municipal vehicles and has installed a charging station at its Town Hall. The wind and solar projects are projected to bring the town US$500,000 per year in revenue, and to provide Scituate with the ability to offset debt service for new construction.
  • Population: 18,133 (2010)
  • Area: 31.8 sq mi (82.4 km2)
  • Link: https://www.scituatema.gov/community-profile-vision/pages/renewable-energy-plan-and-projects
Scituate, Massachusetts, USA