LOWELL — The City Council approved an ordinance regulating the siting of wind-energy facilities last night, marking another step in the city’s push, championed by Councilor Patrick Murphy, to become more environmentally friendly.
And as luck would have it, “going green” comes with some green. Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday that Lowell is among 35 communities to be designated a “Green Community,” under the Green Community Act, putting the city in line for a piece of $8.1 million in state clean-energy grants as well as additional federal funds.
Adam Baacke, the assistant city manager/director of the Department of Planning and Development, explained that the ordinance establishes and defines, under the city’s zoning code, where both small and large wind facilities could be allowed in the city. Under current regulations, wind facilities would be allowed in nearly every part of the city. The new ordinance provides for an approval process and more stringent guidelines.
Baacke added that having such an ordinance is essential in the city’s race for grant funding through the Green Communities Act.
Speaking in favor of the ordinance, resident Jay Mason pointed out that Medford constructed a $660,000 wind turbine, for which the city was reimbursed $550,00 from the state and other concerns such as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Today it is producing $25,000 in revenue annually, so the city’s $110,000 investment was paid off in just more than four years.
The council adopted the ordinance and forwarded it to the zoning and environmental subcommittees to work out some issues the Planning Board had raised regarding some of the language in the ordinance.
In other business, the council:
* Held a public hearing on accepting Chapter 235 of the Acts of 1994, which authorizes a firefighter or police officer whose employment is terminated due to a reduction in force and subsequently reinstated to their former position to be credited with active service for the period during which they were unemployed, subject to some limitations.
City Manager Bernie Lynch said the matter was brought forward by the Firefighters Union on behalf of some firefighters who had been laid-off and brought back into service in the 1990s.
A vote on the matter will be taken in one week.
* Approved a 60-day stay of demolition for 127 Humphrey St. The Council had previously voted to demolish the structure, however the owner, Linda Sheff, has since entered into a purchase-and-sale agreement with a buyer, Able Investments, Inc.
The new owner has 60 days to obtain a permit and begin the renovation work on the property. If it fail to do so, it will be demolished by the city.
“In the long run it is more valuable to keep the land on the tax rolls than have an empty piece of property doing nothing,” said City Councilor Rita Mercier.
