Situation
The oldest land conservancy in the country, The Trustees of Reservations, was charged with elevating the visibility of its more than 100 properties across the state of Massachusetts. More than simply managing places to visit, The Trustees wanted to engage people to create greener, healthier communities—and lower their own carbon footprint.
After it was approached by developers about erecting wind turbines, the organization conducted a survey of properties and began work with Applied Science Associates to design its own 1.8 MW Community Wind Project on 800+ acres of open space at Cohasset’s Turkey Hill. Not typical developers, The Trustees of Reservations needed an expert who could advise them and manage the complicated process of moving their unique project through public regulatory approvals.
Solution
Loria Emerging Energy Consulting was brought in to manage the public permitting of the project, including preparing for and representing The Trustees of Reservations at hearings and meetings of the Town of Cohasset’s Planning and Conservation Boards. In addition, Dennis Loria prepared and delivered presentations for public outreach meetings related to the project.
Results
The Cohasset Wind Project at Turkey Hill was successfully permitted by the Town of Cohasset, gaining both a special town permit and a wetlands permit by a unanimous vote. The project, which has been awarded a construction grant from Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, offers a national model of how protected land can effectively be used to generate renewable energy while meeting conservation goals.
Before construction began, this project was subject to a legal appeal by adjacent property owners. That litigation is still in process.
