Spending to save

Varian wind turbine

Cost: $8 million

Operational: December 2012

Size: 2.5 megawatts; 492 feet high from base to tip of blade

Electricity generated: Will power one-third of Varian’s Gloucester plant

Estimated savings per year: $1 million

Gloucester Engineering wind turbines (2)

Cost: $12 million

Operational: December 2012

Size: Each is 2 megawatts; 400 feet high from base to tip of blade

Electricity generated: Will power the Gloucester’s municipal buildings, including: City Hall; Gloucester High School; O’Maley Middle School; Beeman Memorial, East Gloucester, Plum Cove, Veterans’ Memorial, and West Parish elementary schools; Dorothy Talbot Rink; Office of Veterans’ Services; sewer treatment plant; police station; four fire stations; Sawyer Free Library

Estimated savings per year: $470,000

SOURCES: Varian and City of Gloucester