Wind Power News: Massachusetts
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Huge crowd delays Quincy meeting on Moon Island turbine
QUINCY — An overwhelming turnout at a public hearing on Boston’s proposal to build a 400-foot wind turbine on Moon Island forced the hearing’s postponement until next month. The planning board voted to continue Wednesday’s meeting after about 100 people packed a city hall conference room. Dozens had to stand and several asked for louder microphones and better views of presentations. The meeting probably will resume March 7. The venue hasn’t been determined. The room was occupied mostly by Squantum . . .
Commission should listen to Bourne on wind project
The New Generation Wind Project proposes to erect four 492-foot tall wind turbines in a rural section of Bournedale. These turbines would be higher and closer to neighboring properties than the one in Falmouth that has caused such huge negative neighborhood impacts. The Patrick administration’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs recently took the unusual step of intervening in this local Cape matter, with a letter to the Cape Cod Commission claiming it had never heard of anywhere in . . .
Judge says Austin has standing to appeal Dennis turbine
ORLEANS DISTRICT COURT — Orleans District Court Judge Brian Merrick on Feb. 3 confirmed Rosemarie Austin’s right to appeal the Dennis Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District Committee’s decision to allow Aquacultural Research Corporation to build a 242-foot wind turbine on its property adjacent to Chapin Beach in Dennis. Claiming that the turbine would obstruct her view and devalue her property, Austin’s appeal sent the case to the regional Old King’s Highway Commission, which overturned the local decision. ARC appealed . . .
Foes air concerns at wind forum
FAIRHAVEN — Wind turbines will not yield the economic and environmental benefits that supporters claim, but will disrupt people’s lives and causing ill health, critics said at a forum Tuesday. About 70 people gathered in the VFW hall at a town meeting organized by Wind Wise, a group that wants to halt the town’s plan to build two 397-foot wind turbines off Arsene Street. Eleanor Tillinghast, an environmental advocate and member of the steering committee of Wind Wise Massachusetts, a . . .
Town Meeting not able to withdraw wind support, Fairhaven officals say
FAIRHAVEN — Although a proposal to stop the town’s wind turbine project is on next week’s Special Town Meeting warrant, it’s unlikely to have any impact on the turbine project. Even if Town Meeting wanted to reverse its 2007 vote, it could no longer do so legally, town officials said. On Monday, selectmen voted to recommend indefinite postponement of the warrant article that calls for immediately stopping the wind project as well as two additional articles. Their decision was based . . .
Professionals should be zealously pursuing answers on wind
I am respectfully writing in response to the Guest View letter by Gordon L. Deane; “Misinformation has undue influence in turbine debate” of Feb. 2. I have a question; how did he get himself in such an awkward position? His engineers should have foreseen and advised that there would be an adverse public response to wind turbine noise. There are published documents that would have clearly shown neighbors’ seeking relief with appeals for legal action. My profession as INCE member . . .
Wind energy forum tonight in Fairhaven
Fairhaven Wind held a public forum last month, outlining its plans to build two 1.5 megawatt turbines off Arsene Street. Tonight at 7 at the VFW on Main Street, opponents of the project will make their case, with their own environmental and health experts, about why two 400-foot wind turbines are wrong for the town. Guest speakers will include Eleanor Tillinghast, an environmental advocate and co-fonder of Green Berkshires Inc., who will discuss the Massachusetts wind rush and give an . . .
Wind turbines unnecessary, and not worth annoyance
At the recent Cape Cod Commission hearing on the New Generation Wind project, lawyers, consultants and owners spoke glowingly about the many benefits of wind power. High-ranking state officials echoed their comments, saying wind power is necessary to reduce pollution and save the world from global warming. Studies have found that wind energy does not save fossil fuel, and fails to reduce pollution. Unlike conventional power sources on the grid, wind turbines, whose energy output changes with the wind, need . . .
Quincy residents wary of height of wind turbine
As Wednesday’s public hearing on the joint Quincy-Boston plan to build a nearly 400-foot wind turbine on Quincy’s Moon Island draws near, some Quincy residents are questioning the value of the project to their city and the cost in intangibles they may have to pay for it. Quincy Planning Board member William Geary said his panel doesn’t have a good idea of how big the turbine will appear from the city’s Squantum neighborhood, complaining at an information session last month . . .
State says clean energy firms thrive in Massachusetts
Despite a handful of high-profile setbacks last year, Massachusetts’ clean energy industry is alive and thriving, according to Gov. Deval Patrick’s top environmental official. The bankruptcy of state-subsidized Evergreen Solar in Marlborough was perhaps the most prominent letdown for the Bay State’s green industry in 2011. But in the big picture, the field is healthy, said Rick Sullivan, state secretary for Energy and Environmental Affairs. Statewide, jobs in clean energy grew 6.7 percent last year, totaling about 64,000 positions ranging . . .
