Brick Looks To The Wind [VIDEO]

Brick Township continues to make major strides when it comes to a commitment of going green. First, officials installed solar panels on the roof of town hall. Now a wind turbine has been erected to help cut some of the hefty utility bill faced during this tough economic time.

Mayor Steve Acropolis and other Township officials dedicated the turbine yesterday afternoon. It was installed earlier this year by T.R. Weniger, Inc. and engineered by Birdsall Services Group. The latter was the same company that helped Ocean Gate become the first municipality in the state to have a turbine power their municipal complex. Brick's windmill will generate power for the Drum Point Sports Complex just behind the Emma Havens Elementary School on Drum Point Road.

The turbine is a 10 kilowatt system, has 22-foot diameter blades atop an 80-foot high steel pole and will generate 15-thousand kilowatts per year. Mayor Acropolis says it's an impressive sight to see. He adds "it's great to be here today with the students from the school able to witness this. This is truly the wave of the future and any place we can trim and save money and at the same time protect the environment - it's truly a win win for everyone."

The wind turbine is the latest example of Acropolis' commitment to using renewable energy to lower costs and generate additional revenue for the town. At this point it's unclear how much the turbines will save but it's in the upper thousands. The project cost $177,560. The Township received federal grants to pay for it and it didn't cost taxpayers a dime.

In the not too distant future, the town plans to install a solar field on the site of the old French's Landfill.