Established by the 2003 Town Meeting, the Nahant Alternative Energy Study Committee is comprised of seven appointed members having the directive to evaluate the feasibility of establishing an alternative energy project or projects for the Town of Nahant.

The committee's mission is to undertake the study, and to obtain assistance in the study, for making use of alternative technologies and fuels for the production of energy and energy conservation in order to achieve positive environmental, financial and/or security benefits.

The committee will make recommendations at an Annual Town Meeting, based on study findings and evaluation.

2005 Town Meeeting Update

At Town Meeting in April, voters will choose whether or not to approve a zoning law change, that would permit a meteorology (met) tower. The proposed zoning law change would allow a met tower of up to 140’ in height, for a period of up to 15 months, or less.

This article (Article 13) was submitted by the Planning Board, at the request of the Nahant Alternate Energy Committee (NAEC). NAEC was formed to study alternate energy sources, fuels and conservation methods, that could be used to benefit the town.

The purpose of the met tower is to measure the wind velocity in Nahant, to determine whether wind is an economically attractive source of energy, or income, for the Town of Nahant. Article 13 allows only a temporary tower for the purposes of a study. A wind turbine is not allowed by Article 13. There is no expense to the Town for the tower.

If Article 13 is approved, the Town would erect the tower at the compost area off Spring Road. The tower would be 132’ tall, with a diameter of approximately 6” and be supported by guy wires, that extend outward to a diameter of 165 feet, with the tower at the center of this diameter. On top of the tower would be a small wind speed and directional device (approximately 1’ in diameter).

There are no permanent footings required. The foot of the tower is placed on a steel plate that lies on the ground. Guy wires are attached to screw anchors, similar to telephone pole guy anchors, that are screwed into the ground. As a point of reference, the meteorology equip-ment, tower diameter and guy wires would be dimension-ally similar to a 35’ sailboat’s mast, except that the height would be three times as tall and the guy wires are more widely distributed, as noted above.

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Our Meetings
The Nahant Alternative Energy Committee meets every month on the second Wednesday of the month at the Town Hall at 7:30 PM.