Gazebo Arrives at 8th & Main

As part of continuing plans to improve the lot at the corner of 8th Avenue and Main Street, a small gazebo was put in place as a decorative seating area. The lot will be edged by arborvitae trees and the area around the gazebo will be landscaped with flowers and native shrubs, in a design created by members of Belmar’s Green Team.

Mayor & Council Considering “Small Wind” for Belmar

The Mayor & Council recently heard a presentation on wind turbine technology from former Belmar resident Will Heyniger. Will is a 1995 graduate of Kean University, and is currently a graduate student at Montclair State University, where he is seeking a Masters degree in Environmental Management and certification in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Will works in Kean University’s Geology/Meteorology Department, providing technical and logistical support for 20 faculty members and students. For his service in that role, Will was selected as the sole recipient of the 2009 Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Service among professional staff.

Will’s presentation at the Council’s June 10, 2009 Agenda Session incorporated elements of a wind study he performed for Kean University, and grew out of a graduate school research requirement and presentation in Environmental Geoscience. Will’s presentation also covered a variety of more basic issues for the 75 members of the public who attended the presentation, including the difference between “horizontal axis wind turbines” (”HAWT“), the traditional large-scale wind turbine technology that is currently in use in Atlantic City, and “vertical axis wind turbines” (”VAWT“) which are much smaller-scale wind turbines that spin around a vertical shaft like a carousel.

As Will explained in his presentation, large scale turbines require a large open land area away from homes because of the noise they generate. They are generally not a realistic option for densely developed communities like Belmar, at least based on current technology. VAWTs, in contrast, are much quieter and smaller in scale. Indeed, some models are designed to be mounted on the roofs of homes and commercial buildings. Unlike HAWTs, which must swivel so their blades can face the wind, VAWTs can capture the wind from any direction with a much smaller footprint. They also can be visually attractive, and some models appear sculpture-like.

The downside of VAWTs is their “power curve.” While VAWTs begin to spin in windspeeds as low as 5mph, they do not start generating a significant amount of power until the windspeed reaches 10-12 mph. (In very high winds, an internal brake automatically prevents the turbine from spinning out of control). Because New Jersey is a “net-metering” state, any amount of renewable electricity generated in your home will help lower your electric bill. Indeed, on a very windy day, the VAWT (like rooftop solar panels on a very sunny day) can generate enough electricity to make your meter spin backwards. So, the more wind, the more electricity the VAWT will generate, and the more quickly a homeowner — or the Borough of Belmar — can pay off the cost of a wind turbine.

During his presentation, Will stressed the importance of gathering accurate location-specific wind data. He noted that because nearby buildings and other structures can affect the wind at a site either positively or negatively, the Borough should not rely upon generally available data to attempt to assess the feasibility of specific locations for a municipal wind turbine, such as at the marina, beach or lakes. To that end, Mayor Ken Pringle and Council President Merry Brennan, who heads up Belmar’s Green Team, will be meeting with representatives of The Big Wind, a Sea Girt-based distributor for Urban Green Energy, a manufacturer of vertical axis wind turbines, to discuss placing a series of data-recording anenometers in various locations in Belmar in order to begin gathering data and assessing and comparing various locations in town in an effort to identify cost-efficient sites to install VAWT turbines. The Belmar Green Team will take the lead on this effort. In addition to collecting wind data, the Green Team will also assemble information about rebates and energy tax credits to make available to Belmar residents who might be interested in exploring the idea of installing a VAWT wind turbine on their homes.

Energy Audit Proposals Underway

Belmar received approval by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program to participate in its Local Government Energy Audit Program. On behalf of the Green Team, Resident Tom Latza, a Rutger’s University Environmental Steward Intern, compiled the comprehensive data needed to apply for audits on the three buildings selected for the first round of audits: Taylor Pavilion, Borough Hall and Union Fire Company. Next, proposals will be sent to state-authorized auditing firms.  The Clean Energy Program subsidizes the cost of the audit, up to 100%. When complete, the audits will recommend cost-justified energy efficiency measures, some of which will be eligible for grants identified by the Clean Energy Program.

Volunteers Plant Main Street Flowers

Rain did not stop nearly a dozen Green Team members from planting flowers in the Main Street barrel planters that had been set on every street corner by the Department of Public Works. Most of the flowers were started from seed in the Magical Garden Community Garden greenhouse on 15th Avenue at E Street, and are expected to fill out the planters nicely in the coming weeks. The use of “homegrown” flowers and volunteer labor were a cost savings for the borough, and everyone involved was glad to be a part of the planting.

Sports camps

Belmar Recreation will be hosting U S Sports camps again this year.  A camp for 3-5 year olds will be held July 6th thru the 10th from 2pm till 330 pm. A camp for 5-14 year olds will be held  July 6th thru the 10th from 0900 till 1pm.  The camps are Multi sport camps that will expose children to sports from around the world. Both camps will be held at the Memorial Field at 1200 Main Street. For information or registration please contact

Celine Martin
Regional Director
US Sports Institute Inc.
 
Tel:  (732) 563-2520 x231
Direct line: (732) 563 2528
Web: www.USsportsInstitute.com

Planning Board Meeting

Meetings are held in the Municipal Courtroom located at 601 Main Street.

Event Date(s) and Time(s):

June 15, 2009 7:30 pm July 20, 2009 7:30 pm August 17, 2009 7:30 pm October 19, 2009 7:30 pm December 14, 2009 7:30 pm

FOBH 2009 Summer Kickoff/Fundraiser

… at the Jersey Shore’s premier night club, D’Jais in Belmar

For additional information:  http://www.fobhnj.org/fundraiser.html

Event Date(s) and Time(s):

June 15, 2009 7:00 pm

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