Quincy Mayor Koch withdraws support for Moon Island wind turbine  

Credit:  By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent, www.boston.com 23 February 2012 ~~

Mayor Thomas Koch has submitted a letter to the city of Boston, asking it to withdraw the proposal to construct a wind turbine on Moon Island.

In a letter that will be released to residents tomorrow, Koch said he will cancel a community meeting on Feb. 28 about the proposal and is withdrawing support.

“I did not come to this decision lightly, and I make it only out of an abiding trust I believe we have built together that is based on listening, honest dialogue, and working as partners in the best interest of our community,” Koch wrote.

According to the mayor, after speaking with Squantum neighbors over the last several weeks, it became clear that there was a strong opposition to the project.

Previously, the mayor said he had heard support for the project after Boston Mayor Thomas Menino approached him about the project two years ago.

A community meeting in May 2010 cemented that fact, and eventually led to other neighborhood discussions about issues, such as limiting the hours of the Boston Police gun range on Moon Island, providing Quincy residents access to both Moon and Long Islands, and reconstruction of Dorchester Street.

Despite that progress, Koch said the events since then have swung his opinion in the other direction.

“It is my hope that this dialogue will continue even though the community has made its voice clear that it will not support a wind turbine on Moon Island,” Koch wrote. “I also wish to stress that the City of Quincy remains committed to pursuing alternative energy.”