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| The Grid Goes Down, The Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 |
Windham's politicians love freebies, they have never meet a state or federal grant that they haven't drooled over . While many grants have been good to us many have come back to bit us on the butt.
Town and school official have not done their homework approving, nearly unanimously, a proposal to add a micro-grid connecting Sweeney and the Middle school on Quarry St. . A micro grid is a fancy name for a big generator. Along with a solar collector farm it will be a free standing emergency power source . It will serve Windham and Connecticut in times of emergencies.
The proposal was approved with several questions still unanswered like what will it cost Windham. The state may provide $700,000.00 of the 1.8 million dollar estimated price tag. The board of education intends to apply for a $880,000.00 grant from the state board of education leaving the town with a $220,000.00 obligation, funds that may come from the town's fund balance or bonding.
On April 15th voters will be asked to vote on this proposal, a proposal with several questions remaining unanswered:
- Is the 1.8 million dollar price tag firm?
- If the school grant is approved would these monies be taken away from more important future grants?
- What are the maintenance costs projected into the future?
- Administration costs
- Operation cost when shelters are utilized?
- Who would use the emergency shelters? Planned as a regional facility, what percentage of Windham's population would be allowed to utilize the schools gyms and kitchen facilities?
- What are the logistics of providing shelter ? How will it coexist when/if school is in session?
- The Windham Energy Commission claims the solar collectors will provide a substantial amount of ,day to day, energy in addition to providing energy during emergencies. What percentage of day to day energy will the collectors contribute?
- The Energy Commission claims a five year pay back on the solar collectors opposed to the normal payback time of ten years. Why the difference? Is there more sun on Quarry St.?
Why would town officials choose Sweeney and the Middle School for a micro grid project? History tells us the Quarry Street neighborhood, where the schools are located, has not lost power from the existing grid since the Northeast Blackout of 1965. Within 13 hours, New England, New York, New Jersey and parts of Canada were reconnected to the grid.
Jean de Smet, chairman of Windham's energy commission claims that the electrical infrastructure serving Connecticut is outdated and over taxed. She is concerned with the long term relationship between New England power providers and their energy dependence on Hydro Quebec. She is also concerned that summertime "brown outs," occasionally experienced, could lead to wide spread black outs. As Windham is a designated shelter location in case of a nuclear meltdown at Millstone, deSmet foresees the possible arrival of 3,000 refugees from the greater Waterford area
She wants Windham to become as energy independent as possible.
Windham has no experience as a emergency shelter provider. Victims of fires have been put up in motels in the past. Those that suffer from winter storms or summer heat are offered the temporary facilities of town hall to warm up, cool down or recharge their cell phones.We have never had a citizen loss of life due to a lack of a town emergency shelter.
Under the present proposal the shelter would be utilized short term for weather events or long term for disasters such as New Orleans's Katrina, a nuclear meltdown at Millstone or a complete breakdown of the electric grid.
The shelter proposal would not amount to a pee hole in the snow. It would be surprising if schools could accommodate more then 100 guests over night.
The logic of this project is illogical. Why build it in an area that historically enjoys 24/7 electrical service.? Would it not be more feasible to build the micro grid in an area that suffers electric service interruption such as Windham? Wouldn't The Barrows Magnet School be a more appropriate location? North Windham or Windham Center School could be tied into Barrows free standing grid.
Does Windham want to host a regional emergency shelter? Do we want, or can we manage up to 3000 "traumatized" guests on a long term basis?
Windham is the region's social service center. It has been for years and will probably will be forever.Towns send their problems to us. Do we want the responsibility of being the regions "emergency shelter Innkeeper"?
John Monaghan
Jean de Smet, chairman of Windham's energy commission claims that the electrical infrastructure serving Connecticut is outdated and over taxed. She is concerned with the long term relationship between New England power providers and their energy dependence on Hydro Quebec. She is also concerned that summertime "brown outs," occasionally experienced, could lead to wide spread black outs. As Windham is a designated shelter location in case of a nuclear meltdown at Millstone, deSmet foresees the possible arrival of 3,000 refugees from the greater Waterford area
She wants Windham to become as energy independent as possible.
Windham has no experience as a emergency shelter provider. Victims of fires have been put up in motels in the past. Those that suffer from winter storms or summer heat are offered the temporary facilities of town hall to warm up, cool down or recharge their cell phones.We have never had a citizen loss of life due to a lack of a town emergency shelter.
Under the present proposal the shelter would be utilized short term for weather events or long term for disasters such as New Orleans's Katrina, a nuclear meltdown at Millstone or a complete breakdown of the electric grid.
The shelter proposal would not amount to a pee hole in the snow. It would be surprising if schools could accommodate more then 100 guests over night.
The logic of this project is illogical. Why build it in an area that historically enjoys 24/7 electrical service.? Would it not be more feasible to build the micro grid in an area that suffers electric service interruption such as Windham? Wouldn't The Barrows Magnet School be a more appropriate location? North Windham or Windham Center School could be tied into Barrows free standing grid.
Does Windham want to host a regional emergency shelter? Do we want, or can we manage up to 3000 "traumatized" guests on a long term basis?
Windham is the region's social service center. It has been for years and will probably will be forever.Towns send their problems to us. Do we want the responsibility of being the regions "emergency shelter Innkeeper"?
John Monaghan
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