At Safe Way Auto Center, the largest privately-owned full-service auto shop in Bristol, the family-run business has been "going green" for years.
But on Thursday the family was adding its crown jewel, a wind turbine to power the facility.
"About two years ago, my parents went to Spain. My father's always had a green thumb. He came back and he said 'windmill.' We initially looked at solar, and it was just too expensive. So here we are today," said Stephen Coelho of Safe Way Auto Center.
The business has been adding eco-friendly methods for years, like recycling used motor oil to cleanly burn and process the fuel to heat the facility.
"I'm trying to become very independent," said Joe Coelho of Safe Way Auto Center.
The turbine is the first 50 kilowatt turbine in the U.S. that can hydraulically pivot on its site for maintenance and when hurricane conditions are expected.
"Me personally, I get goose bumps. They tell me as long as Mother Nature cooperates and keeps the wind blowing I mean, I'll be in good shape," Joe Coelho said.
Joe Coelho said he wanted to buy an American-made turbine, but none were the right size. So he bought British, only to find out too late they subcontract manufacturing to China.
However, he said it's being installed by E2Sol from East Greenwich.
"My father gets something in his mind and that's it. And pretty much that's all that's been on his mind for the past two years, is how he can put a wind turbine up in the back of his shop and become part of the solution versus contributing part of the problem," Stephen Coelho said.
With a grant and loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Council for $124,000, the $250,000 Joe Coelho said the project will pay for itself in five years, producing 90 percent of the power needs of the shop.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement