Wind Not Quite Enough to Fill Staples’ Sails

January 4, 2009

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Staples had intentions to build a 200-foot wind turbine off Rte. 9 in Massachusetts, hoping that the turbine would be able to generate 20-24 percent of the power needed for its 650,000-square-foot corporate headquarters nearby.

But the wind is not cooperating with the company’s plans: Measured wind velocity from the 120-foot meteorological test tower came in at less than 5 meters per second (11 mph), which is not quite enough to make the project financially worthwhile, said Staples’ VP of environmental affairs.

He did not rule out a turbine installation in the future, however, noting that Staples would “revisit the idea” if technology develops that could essentially do more with less wind, writes National Wind Watch.

The project to harness wind to help power the office supply giant’s headquarters started in 2006 with a $35,500 feasibility study – funded partially by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.

“Nobody wants to erect these towers where wind doesn’t exist,” remarked the chairwoman of the Greener Framingham Committee.

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