UMASS Dartmouth's major energy makeover

DARTMOUTH, Mass., (WPRI) - A new wind turbine on the UMASS Dartmouth campus is expected to reduce energy costs and shrink the school's carbon footprint.

Officials say when operational, the blades will harvest energy from the wind, reducing pollutants in the atmosphere.

Vice Chancellor Deb McLaughlin said, "We are here to mark a major milestone in our effort to make our campus cleaner, greener and more sustainable."

The 600 kilowatt turbine will produce the same amount of energy annually as burning 39 tons of coal, and the university will save 100,000-125,000 dollars annually.

The whole campus is in the midst of a major energy makeover, a $34 million investment.

"To replace lighting, insulation, HVAC and modernize water and sewer treatment plants."

In addition, a 40-year-old oil fueled heating plant will be replaced by a more modern gas fired version next year. The whole modernization project will save the campus $2.9 million dollars per year.

UMASS D artmouth chancellor Jean MacCormack said, "Our students have been a driving force in helping us to understand that sustainability is the way to go."

This wind turbine fits in with the states ambitious plan of 2,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2020.

Steven Clark from Mass. Energy and Environmental Affairs said, "Two-thousand megawatts of wind energy is enough electricity to support 800 thousand homes."

The university hopes to have the wind turbine operational by the end May.