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Massachusetts Wind Working Group

MWWG tours the 600kW wind turbine at Holy Name High School in Worcester, MA.

The Massachusetts Wind Working Group (MWWG) provides a forum for wind energy stakeholders to promote smart and successful wind energy development in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Specifically, the MWWG aims to:

  • Identify barriers and opportunities related to the development of wind energy
  • Create solutions to industry challenges
  • Promote public understanding of modern wind power and its benefits and impacts
  • Provide a forum for discussion about best practices and other relevant topics for the industry
  • Provide an opportunity for wind energy stakeholders to collaborate on important issues
  • Create connections between wind energy and other sectors to foster job creation and economic development in Massachusetts

The MWWG is a diverse group of wind energy stakeholders including developers; environmental groups; federal, state, and local officials; academic institutions; utility representatives; lawyers; advocacy groups; turbine manufacturers; and farming and rural interests. The MWWG is open to any interested parties that support the group's mission. The MWWG is committed to small scale (residential/farm), community scale, and commercial scale wind energy development.

The MWWG is currently funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and is managed by the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Wind Energy Center. It is guided by a volunteer planning committee and aims to hold quarterly meetings to present and discuss relevant topics. The MWWG also strives to regularly update stakeholders on important issues, events, and developments through its active email listserve.

Founded in 2005, the MWWG originally received funding from the US Department of Energy's Wind Powering America (WPA) program, which has supported over thirty Wind Working Groups around the country. WPA offers a State Wind Working Group Handbook as a resource for all Wind Working Groups.


For More Information or to be Added to the MWWG E-mail List

Contact Jody Lally at the Wind Energy Center: 413-577-0887

The next Massachusetts Wind Working Group meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 15th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the University of Massachusetts Boston (details and directions to follow)

 

The meeting will feature a panel presentation and discussion on the topic:

“New Opportunities for Long-term Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements in MA and New England”

 

Please join us for an engaging discussion of the latest opportunities for long-term (10-20 year) state and regional power purchase agreements that will facilitate the financing of wind and other eligible renewable energy projects. A panel of industry and government representatives will discuss the new Massachusetts Green Communities Act Section 83A long-term renewable energy contracting obligation adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature last summer, as well as the status of implementation of the New England Governors’ commitment to regional renewable energy procurement through NESCOE. 

 

Panel speakers include:

  • Moderator: Steven Clarke, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
  • Barry Sheingold, New Energy Opportunities
  • Heather Hunt, New England States Committee on Electricity  (NESCOE)
  • Jeff Grybowski, Deepwater Wind

 

Also on the agenda will be an update on a wind turbine site in MA and a report-back from the American Wind Energy Association Windpower 2013 meeting in Chicago.

 

The Mass. Wind Working Group meeting on May 15th will be held at the Massachusetts State Archives Building, located on the UMass. Boston campus, on the 3rd floor, room 0315.  There is limited free parking, if available—about 20-30 spaces—in front of the Archive, and a university pay-parking lot (University Lot A  - $6.00 per car) just steps away.  parking map.

 

By Car:   From the north: Rt. 3/1-93 to Exit 15 (Morrissey Blvd./JFK Library). Turn left at the bottom of the ramp. Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library.      From the west: Rte. I-90 to Rte I-93 South. Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library    From the south: Rt. 3/1-93 to Exit 14 (Morrissey Blvd./JFK Library). Continue north on Morrissey Blvd. Follow signs for UMass Boston/JFK Library.

 

By MBTA:   Take the MBTA Red Line to JFK/UMass station; there are two shuttle buses at the station. Bus #2 stops at the Archives and the JFK Library. The bus is free and runs every 20 minutes: on the hour and 20 minutes after and before the hour from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Please RSVP to lally@ecs.umass.edu

Previous Meetings