County MUA To Study Feasibility of Wind Power

COURT HOUSE — The county MUA agreed Sept. 19 to develop a request for proposals for a Wind Energy Consultant to perform a study of wind power capabilities at the authority’s wastewater treatment facilities.
The MUA had considered making a contract for a one-year study with Rowan University in which the authority would receive a feasibility report outlining wind data and electrical generation from its four wastewater treatment facilities: Cape May Treatment Facility, 545 Sunset Blvd.; Ocean City Treatment Facility, 45th Street and Simpson Avenue; Seven Mile Beach/Middle Treatment Facility, 1306 Moore Rd. Crest Haven Complex; and Wildwood/Lower Treatment Facility, 2701 Route 47 South.
The study would consist of mounting devices to measure and record wind velocity, at 160 feet above grade, for the collection of data over a one-year period, and include an analytical report on the feasibility of generating energy via wind power at the MUA’s facilities.
The Rowan University study’s proposed cost was $20,184, with portions funded by the state Board of Public Utilities.
But since that time, and after consulting with Atlantic County Utilities Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Facility which uses electricity generated from five wind turbines, along with consultations with several wind energy consultants, equipment manufacturers and financiers, MUA staff discovered that to be effective, a study would require analyzing wind velocity at the elevation as close as possible to the proposed turbine hub, approximately 260 feet above grade.
The MUA will issue a request for proposals to complete a thorough study at that grade, which will be broken down into two parts: a pre-feasibility study and a feasibility study.
The cost of the pre-feasibility study is estimated at $20,000 to 30,000; the feasibility study cost is estimated at $130,000 to 180,000, with the option to terminate the project after the pre-feasibility phase is complete for the four wastewater treatment facilities.
Contact Avedissian at (609) 886-8600 Ext 27 or at: savedissian@cmcherald.com.