CityBus adding three wind turbines

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Lafayette's cityscape is about to change. CityBus is adding three wind turbines, but it was not an easy journey.

A shovel-turn and applause served as the culmination of a long process to bring three wind turbines to CityBus' facility on Canal Road. The timeline included a grant submission, followed by a laundry list of federal hoops to jump through for General Manager Marty Sennett and his staff.

"I understand it, I did not like it necessarily,” said Sennett. “Once we got through all the hurdles it was a good feeling."

The process was not nearly as difficult in Lafayette. CityBus officials went before the Area Plan Commission and the Variance Board to get approval.

"It is something new for our community and whenever you have got something new you need that public discussion to make sure we are heading at it from all different angles,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski.

The turbines will be at the administration, storage and maintenance facilities, but they will not be like the ones in Benton County everyone is used to seeing filling the sky. They will be 155 feet, instead of close to 300.

"They will be quite a bit shorter,” added Sennett. “There will be less noise and they will produce obviously less electricity that what the Benton County big ones do. They still should cover at least half of our energy cost and hopefully we will be able to sell the energy credits for additional revenues."

West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis said 3-million people ride the bus every year. And steps like this make a difference.

"Quite clearly it sends the message that we have a very efficient and we utilize that to the extreme," said Dennis.

Sennett said the project began with the desire to "do the right thing." He feels this latest green step is another one in the right direction.

Sennett said work on the turbines will begin in late May. They should be finished up in the fall.