Room 109B, State House                                                            Phone: (617) 722-1540

Boston, MA 02133                                                                          Fax:     (617) 722-1078

                                                     

Contact: Kyle Toto   

Date: January 9, 2009

 

 

 

Boston – Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) and Representative Robert L. Rice, Jr. (D-Gardner) today announced that the French River Land Company in Winchendon has received a $325,000 Small Hydropower Initiative (SMI) Grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC) Renewable Energy Trust. The French River Land Company’s project at Tannery Pond in Winchendon is a comprehensive facility overhaul including repairs to the dam, tailrace and powerhouse, and the replacement of generation equipment and controls. When the project is complete, the facility will have 165 kW of capacity (combined existing and replacement) and is expected to generate approximately 350,000 incremental kWh per year. The estimated time to completion is approximately one year.

 

 

Representative Rice added, “I congratulate French River Land Company on their award to move ahead with overhauling the facility, one that will generate significant additional electrical capacity to serve the region. This grant affords a tremendous opportunity for advancing ecologically-sound power generation, and I am pleased to add my support."

 

The Small Hydropower Initiative sought applications for construction grants and loans, as well as for pre-paid contracts for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) associated with incremental hydropower, projects that upgrade, rehabilitate, develop, or redevelop eligible facilities with nameplate capacity between 100 kW and 30 MW.  Grants and pre-paid REC contracts were limited to $750,000 per project and loans were limited to $1,000,000 per project.  A minimum applicant cost-share of 25% is required for all projects. The Renewable Energy Trust seeks to maximize environmental and economic benefits for the Commonwealth’s citizens by pioneering and promoting clean energy technologies and fostering the emergence of sustainable markets for electricity generated from renewable sources. The Trust provides financial assistance to individuals and businesses for solar panels and wind turbines at their homes and facilities, works with communities to incorporate green design into schools, helps emerging clean energy businesses flourish in the Commonwealth, and much more.

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