Norwich - Six new 2.5-megawatt diesel generators proposed by Norwich Public Utilities at three locations in the city are expected to pay for themselves within 10 years, even though they would only be used about 300 hours per year, NPU officials said.The generators will cost a combined $6 million, and NPU ratepayers are expected to recovery that amount over the first 10 years of the facilities' operations, NPU officials said at the first of two open house informational meetings on the project Friday.

The generators will cost a combined $6 million, and NPU ratepayers are expected to recovery that amount over the first 10 years of the facilities' operations, NPU officials said at the first of two open house informational meetings on the project Friday.The second session will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the sewage-treatment plant at 44 Falls Ave. off West Main Street. Sixteen people attended Friday's session over the four-hour time period.

The second session will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the sewage-treatment plant at 44 Falls Ave. off West Main Street. Sixteen people attended Friday's session over the four-hour time period.The generators will be built on land owned by NPU. The sites have been approved by the Connecticut Siting Council, and environmental permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection are expected soon, NPU General Manager John Bilda said.

The generators will be built on land owned by NPU. The sites have been approved by the Connecticut Siting Council, and environmental permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection are expected soon, NPU General Manager John Bilda said.Two generators will be placed at the former Salem propane facility off Salem Turnpike across from Walmart. Two others will be at a former NPU substation on Salem Turnpike adjacent to the Salem Plaza shopping center, and two will be at the NPU natural gas facility on Wisconsin Avenue in the Stanley Israelite Norwich Business Park.

Two generators will be placed at the former Salem propane facility off Salem Turnpike across from Walmart. Two others will be at a former NPU substation on Salem Turnpike adjacent to the Salem Plaza shopping center, and two will be at the NPU natural gas facility on Wisconsin Avenue in the Stanley Israelite Norwich Business Park.The project is part of a larger effort by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative. Norwich, Groton and Jewett City utilities are members of the cooperative, and all three will have the new diesel generators. The first unit was installed this week in Jewett City behind the Rite Aid pharmacy on Main Street, said Glenn Wilson, project manager for Sustainable Energy Analytics LLC, a subsidiary of CMEEC.

The project is part of a larger effort by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative. Norwich, Groton and Jewett City utilities are members of the cooperative, and all three will have the new diesel generators. The first unit was installed this week in Jewett City behind the Rite Aid pharmacy on Main Street, said Glenn Wilson, project manager for Sustainable Energy Analytics LLC, a subsidiary of CMEEC.The Norwich units are expected to be installed in spring.

The Norwich units are expected to be installed in spring.Mark Greene, operations integrity manager for NPU, said the units are expected to operate just 300 hours per year during the highest peak energy usage days. Because NPU pays high premiums to purchase power during those days, an estimated $1,000 to $1,200 per megawatt hour, generating power locally is expected to save about 40 percent of that cost, officials said.

Mark Greene, operations integrity manager for NPU, said the units are expected to operate just 300 hours per year during the highest peak energy usage days. Because NPU pays high premiums to purchase power during those days, an estimated $1,000 to $1,200 per megawatt hour, generating power locally is expected to save about 40 percent of that cost, officials said.The diesel generators will use ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel with high-tech emission controls. The units are about the size of a tractor-trailer and similar in appearance, and would be operated by remote control through the NPU control room on South Golden Street. Noise levels would be minimal, about the level of a conversation at 15 feet from the facility, officials said.

The diesel generators will use ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel with high-tech emission controls. The units are about the size of a tractor-trailer and similar in appearance, and would be operated by remote control through the NPU control room on South Golden Street. Noise levels would be minimal, about the level of a conversation at 15 feet from the facility, officials said.c.bessette@theday.com

c.bessette@theday.com