Municipal leaders from Ocean County spent the day in Ocean Gate Tuesday learning how to make wind power a reality for their communities.

A windmill will soon power the municipal complex in Ocean Grove. As the first municipality in the state to use a wind turbine for power, community leaders hosted a wind power summit to help bring other towns up to speed. The Green Energy Council was on hand to speak about commercial and residential mills. Council members said that the windmills pay for themselves in about seven years and would ultimately result in free power for the communties.

The wind turbine in Ocean Gate will likely be built behind Borough Hall. It is costing the municipality about $300,000. The state will pay for a third of the cost.

Brick Township Mayor Steve Acropolis wants to build a turbine on township grounds, but he is against residential mills. He says the windmill ordinance in his town will be revised in the next few weeks. He no longer wants homeowners to be able to build mills in their backyards. Instead, he says he wants companies on large lots to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Ocean Gate hopes to have its windmill built by July 1.

Related Information:U.S. Department of EnergyNew Jersey Wind