08.01.07:
New Saco train station will be a ‘green’ line.

08.01.07: New Saco train station will be a ‘green’ line.

SACO (Aug 1, 2007): A sub-committee of the Saco City Council, which has been working on the details of a new train station over the past several months, is suggesting the new station be powered by a windmill.

The sub-committee, which includes councilors Eric Cote and Chris Jacques, Mayor Mark Johnston and Development Director Peter Morelli, is recommending the city buy a 100-foot windmill from Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc. for between $130,000 and $145,000.

It will cost an additional $20,000 to $35,000 to install the windmill, for a maximum total cost of $165,000. Morelli said the cost to purchase and install the windmill would come out of the construction budget for the train station.

Entegrity would install the windmill and offer the city a five-year warranty and maintenance agreement. Johnston said Entegrity has also guaranteed that the windmill will provide at least 100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, which should be more than enough to power the station.

Entegrity, which will make a presentation on the windmill to the full council on Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., has sold windmills like the one being proposed for Saco to businesses, retail stores, school districts and military facilities all over the country.

In addition to the windmill, the train station may have other “green” features, including a geo-thermal heating system, solar panels to power the proposed clock and using recycled materials wherever possible in the construction.