NEWBURYPORT — Newburyport could be the first community on the East Coast relying on the efficiency of a new creation designed to be the next step in alternative energy — a "WindWing" that officials hope will power the lights downtown.
A new alternative to wind turbines, the WindWing has six panels that can tilt up and down in order to create energy.
The invention of Gene Kelley, founder and CEO of Santa Barbara, Cailf.-based W2 Energy Development Corp. and InnovaTech LLC, caught the attention of state Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, who will propose a plan to build a WindWing on the waterfront.
"It's a piece of kinetic art," Costello said. "It's clear it is a renewable product, and the idea behind the business is to find a program or individual to fund the manufacturing of the WindWing and try to use it to create clean renewable energy."
Costello, a proponent of renewable energy in Greater Newburyport, believes the WindWing is something the state is interested in funding and placing on the waterfront.
In May, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi introduced a bill on Beacon Hill that would create 13,000 "green" jobs in the Bay State.
While on a visit to Newburyport with Costello, DiMasi praised the city's commitment to renewable energy while visiting Mark Richey Woodworking, which has recently installed a biomass furnace and is planning on installing a wind turbine to generate electricity.
The bill, which Gov. Deval Patrick supports, would put $13 million a year for the next five years into the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center. The center would then provide grants to start-up companies that specialize in green initiatives, such as the WindWing, to help train workers.
Costello said he will be working with Kelley to find a sponsor for the project, such as the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority or the Custom House Maritime Museum, led by environmental advocate Mark Guay.
Costello would then seek out grant money and work with the city to have the WindWing built.
If all goes well, Costello said a WindWing could grace the waterfront by next summer.
"This is a piece of art, and with two wings or even one bigger one, we could ultimately generate enough power to the waterfront," Costello said. "If it worked, it could relieve us of our reliance on fossil fuel."
Kelley has been touring the country talking to interested groups and companies since last fall. Already WindWing has caught on in Hawaii. Kelley signed a contract with Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority earlier this month to begin construction on a series of micro-clusters that will support homes, farms and cities.
He is also in talks with vineyards and organic farms in California as well as major industrial companies in Utah. In addition, test sites are set up in Texas and Italy.
"This is disruptive technology," Kelley said."This will change the way wind power is generated and make wind turbines obsolete."
Though WindWings are able to replace the turbines in wind fields just as easily, Kelley believes a more efficient way of using a WindWing is based on the number of families in an area.
WindWings can be put together in micro- or macro-clusters, creating enough energy to power entire areas and making generators and the threat of "brown outs" a concern of the past, he said. The smaller units would localize energy production, thus freeing the public electric grid.
"We need to go off grid," Kelley said. "By using the micro- or macro-cluster, you can take the strain off the grid and create higher quality energy efficiently."
Using the same technology, W2 Energy is working to test a "WaterWing," which would be able to harvest energy by immersing the wing in streams, rivers and aqueducts to create power.
Kelley and his site development manager, Larry Parsons of Gloucester, have received interest from local parties and those in charge of Amesbury's Golden Triangle. The so-called Golden Triangle is undeveloped land between Interstates 95 and 495 and Route 110, where town officials want to see commercial and/or industrial development.
"This could be the first for the East Coast," Kelley said. "Rather than put up these whirling dervishes, we need to raise awareness to create alternative energy to serve communities. It is up to the people to decide what is acceptable rather than leaving it to high profit manufacturing and installation ventures."
Costello said there would be no better place for a WindWing than Newburyport, a community leader in green initiatives statewide.
"The state is making an investment in ideas," Costello said. "This is a great idea we can all watch."
