Laws as an impediment

[Chuck Patenaude]

would love to do a high drop, low volume turbine on my farm, but the state regs here in MA are killer, anyone with experience? I currently install solar (thermal and PV) biomass (wood, corn, pellet, digesters), and do a fair amount of design work.

[Rob Beckers]

Hi Chuck,

What do the MA laws say about the use of water for hydro power? You're not allowed to dam a stream? How about diverting a certain percentage and letting the rest flow through (ie. a penstock some distance upstream, then a pipe to get the required head)?

-Rob-

[Chuck Patenaude]

diversion permission can take years (and usually does), Damming is verbotten

[Rob Beckers]

Time to vote these guys out of power...:)

Seriously though, I can see where they are coming from. Much ecological damage has been done by damming projects. On the other side, small scale hydro can pack a punch from an energy perspective, and if done right should not impact ecology.

-Rob-