Total energy produced by the wind turbine.

 View the wind turbine "in action"!
Note: Movie is in QuickTime format. We recommend viewing with a high-speed internet connection.

View the wind turbine image gallery.

With an eye toward the future, I.B.E.W. Local 103 has aggressively assumed a leadership role in the Renewable Energy field in Massachusetts. With government mandates in place that will ensure a continually larger share of the energy market is represented by alternative sources, Local 103 has recognized the inevitability of this market shift as well as the potential opportunities it presents.

In the Fall of 2002, Local 103 demonstrated its willingness and ability to adapt to new and emerging technological advances in energy by installing a 5.4 k/W Solar System on the roof of our Apprenticeship Training Facility. This photovoltaic system was installed by twenty-five volunteer apprentices and journeymen in one weekend, and with its high visibility presence just off the Expressway signals to all that Local 103 remains at the cutting edge of our industry. As a result of our commitment to solar energy, which includes Solar training in our current Apprenticeship Training Program and our Journeyman update classes, Local 103 is today installing solar energy in Commercial and Industrial buildings as well as residential homes throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

Now, as technology advances continue to become reality, Local 103 similarly sits at the forefront of the emerging wind energy technology. For the past eight months, under the leadership of Business Agent Marty Aikens, Local 103 has been working to design and permit a 100 k/W Wind Turbine to be located on our Freeport Street property. Last month we were awarded our necessary permits and construction of our own energy producing turbine will begin shortly. Thanks again to Marty Aiken's leadership, Local 103 has also received a grant in the amount of $260,000 form the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to be used in constructing our wind turbine. The prominent visibility of this structure on our property will again serve to illustrate to all that Local 103 remains a leader in all emerging energy fields.

Again, the emergence of wind energy, like solar and other renewable sources, is not a "fad" destined to fade off and eventually bow to more traditional energy sources. The electricity deregulation laws passed in Massachusetts in the late 1990s mandate the development and deployment of these technologies and those who are unprepared to understand, train and work with these advancements will be left behind.. As with Solar, beginning this September our Apprenticeship training program will include training on Wind Energy and we plan on being just as aggressive in forging our role on the cutting edge of this new technology.

Whereas the notion on maintaining our high expectations as leaders in the energy industry is an honored tradition of generations of I.B.E.W. Local 103 brothers and sisters, we would be remiss if we did not recognize the truly inspiring, committed and relentless work of Business Agent Marty Aikens on our behalf. From Solar to Wind and everything in between, Marty has thrown himself into these emerging markets for the good of the union and has truly become a leader in the future of renewable energy in Massachusetts. Thanks to his work, Local 103 will undoubtedly play a major role in these new markets.
Michael Monahan
Business Manager