Lenox officials looking at wind energy

Put a turbine in front of Mr. Federspiel's mouth, you'd get plenty of power, those few hours each week he works.

According to the article:
"If a turbine were to be constructed, however, it could eventually save the town more than $100,000 per year, according to Cahillane (Jamie Cahillane, chairman of the town's environmental committee), by powering the water treatment plant or other municipal buildings."

Yeah, and it could just as easily cost the Town of Lenox $100,000 or more annually in maintenance costs.
The Town of Lenox has enough trouble running itself, now it wants to get into the business of generating electricity?
What if things don't go as planned?
What if a blade breaks?
What if a generator short circuits or blows out?
How much to make emergency repairs?
Plus, what are the annual maintenance and upkeep costs?
Shouldn't private industry be the ones the town looks to for investment in something like this?
Why must the Town of Lenox obligate itself to managing a matter best left to private enterprise?
If the Town has the land available, it would be better off leasing it out to an energy company willing to do the installation and long-term maintenance and willing to offer the Town a certain percentage of the electrical power generated at no cost in exchange for being allowed to sell the rest on the open market.
Otherwise, next thing you know the Town of Lenox will need to hire an Energy Manager and Maintenance Director at $100K annually plus benefits and pension.
Don't we all know how these things work by now in Massachusetts towns?

To save the town money they should fire Federspiel's. That would get you 100K.
No matter what the town does they will tax and spend to keep the CLUB house playing, will all there wasting day after day. This is a JOKE! The town is a JOKE! Just look at the mess on Church street. Like that will bring in more tourist, RIGHT! Another of Federspiel's stupid moves!

I personally think this could potentially be a good idea. Let them do their studies & see if it will benefit the town. I love Lenox and I have faith that they will make the right decision. Remember, it won't pass without the voters approval.

Peter wrote:

To save the town money they should fire Federspiel's. That would get you 100K.
No matter what the town does they will tax and spend to keep the CLUB house playing, will all there wasting day after day. This is a JOKE! The town is a JOKE! Just look at the mess on Church street. Like that will bring in more tourist, RIGHT! Another of Federspiel's stupid moves!

+1, He's as useful/helpful as teats on a Bull.

nice wrote:

I personally think this could potentially be a good idea. Let them do their studies & see if it will benefit the town. I love Lenox and I have faith that they will make the right decision. Remember, it won't pass without the voters approval.

Better yet, maybe Lenox should instead buy the Shakespeare & Co. campus (relieving S & Co. of its current financial shortfall) and set up tents and three rings and sell tickets because a circus is what the Lenox Selectmen seem best at putting on.

Let's harvest energy from Tanglewood patrons. Make them run through a series of large hamster wheels in order to gain entry.

I figure this is all about stupid ideas, so I thought I would offer one up.

HellerClimateRefugee wrote:

<quoted text>
Better yet, maybe Lenox should instead buy the Shakespeare & Co. campus (relieving S & Co. of its current financial shortfall) and set up tents and three rings and sell tickets because a circus is what the Lenox Selectmen seem best at putting on.

They could BUY the CORNELL INN on 7A they are CLOSED now with all there rules! Tax increase’s . Eastover next. It wont be long for Shakespeare. There are strong roomers more coming!“KEEP LENOX GREEN” and BLACK with all lights closed!