An alternative energy agreement between Old Rochester Regional, Marion, Rochester, and Future Generation Wind is being amended due to delays in the permitting process and with NSTAR.

The two towns and ORR entered into an agreement with the alternative energy company in 2012.

Three wind turbines were scheduled to be online by December 2013.

The date has now been pushed back to December 2014, said ORR Facilities Director Gene Jones at a school committee meeting on Monday.

The turbines will be on the property of Future Generation Wind Manager Keith Mann in Plymouth.

Once completed, the turbines will generate enough net metering credits to reduce their electricity bills by up to 30 percent.

The three entities signed a 20-year contract for the turbines, which does not require any costs for the construction of the turbines.

Jones said ORR could save more than $3 million over the 20-year contract.

Besides a lengthy permitting process, connecting the project to NSTAR’s grid has lead to the delay.

Jones said all the permits have now been completed and the turbines are being ordered from a company in Italy.

Due to the delay, however, the three entities must sign an amended contract. The ORR School Committee agreed to sign it on Monday’s meeting.

Marion Selectmen signed off on the new contract Aug. 8. Rochester Selectmen signed off on it in July.

“We’re just disappointed that it didn’t meet the time frame, but a lot of it was not their fault,” said Rochester Town Administrator Rich LaCamera.

“They have to rely on NSTAR to set up connectivity between the turbines. They delayed them for an extended period of time. It’s just unfortunate that these things take so long.”

Even with the wait, Jones said the project will reap significant rewards going forward.

“It’s a no-brainer for us and our responsibility to the towns. We’re trying to find the best way to keep the budget down,” he said.

Additionally, Jones said once the turbines go online, Mann has agreed to let students come to the site to learn more about it.

“It’s win-win-wind,” he said.