DEM starts building 2nd wind turbine

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) - The Department of Environmental Management started building a brand new wind turbine on Monday. When complete, the windmill will stand 117 feet tall.

It's one of 3 alternative energy products underway by the DEM. This one at Fishermen's Memorial State Park should be online this week.

Campers there will soon use the wind to power their campers. The renewable energy will also be used to power lights, electric sites and sewage pump stations.

DEM Principal Civil Engineer, Lisa Lawless, tells us, "about 17,000 people a year camp here. The turbine will produce about half the power we use at the park."

The turbine will produce 165,000 kWh of electricity. "This will save about $30,000 per year in our electric bill," says Lawless.

On Monday, crews removed scuff marks made during the shipping process and carefully placed the DEM logo on the turbine housing. Then, they started building the tower. Three sections of the tower are carefully going to be put into place, followed by the turbine housing and the blades.

This turbine cost $688,000, funded by settlement funds, grants and state money.

"I'm excited to see things happening in RI. I'm hoping we'll have more and more renewable energy here," says Lawless.

This turbine joins the turbine at the Salty Brine State Beach and a third will be spinning at East Matunuck State Beach on Memorial Day.