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.
Cape Wind hearing in Natick is polarized
NATICK — Proponents of the Cape Wind offshore wind project testified last night that the plan would create jobs and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, while opponents argued that NStar’s idea to purchase electricity from the turbines would cost residents and businesses billions of dollars in rate hikes. State Rep. Thomas Sannicandro, D-Ashland, said the 130-turbine project would create 600 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs while providing clean energy. Sannicandro told about 60 people gathered at a state . . .
A bad proposal
The Shelburne Zoning Board is scheduled to hold a hearing on the new application for four 389-foot industrial turbines for Mount Massaemet, overlooking Shelburne Falls. The situation has been confusing for most of us. It’s been hard to keep track of what the developer has in store for the town. Maybe it’s meant to be that way. If we are confused enough, we might stop caring or start thinking that what happens next doesn’t matter. I, for one, am glad . . .
State agency weighs new turbine regulations
State environmental officials may introduce new regulations to avoid placing wind turbines that exceed the state’s acceptable noise threshold near residential neighborhoods. But ideas for possible new rules are far from concrete and have not yet been fully explored by officials at the Department of Environmental Protection. “It is under consideration, but there’s been nothing written,” said Ed Coletta, a DEP spokesman. “Everything is still under review.” DEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell did not have time on Monday to speak with . . .
Mass DEP complicit in neglect
Falmouth’s wind turbine noise violation represents only the next community, globally, to be subjected to a systemic failure in the prediction of noise levels and sound characteristics emanating from wind turbine installations. The Mass DEP’s noise level criterion is woefully inadequate. This fact was admitted by the state agency in a June 30, 2011 letter to Falmouth selectmen. Last night, the Falmouth Board of Health reviewed the recent DEP noise study that unexpectedly shut down Wind 1 operations for noise . . .
Keep saying ‘no’
As a resident of Shelburne Falls, I would like to thank the voters of Shelburne for banning large-scale industrial wind from the town. I have been following the story as wind developer Fred Field seemed to say one thing, do another and the fate of his wind turbine proposal changed on an almost daily basis. People walked into town meeting in Shelburne thinking they could vote to put this project to rest, only to find out that Field took advantage . . .
Anti-turbine group gets boost from Falmouth
SALEM — Recent tests showing that a wind turbine in Falmouth exceeded state noise guidelines has bolstered a local group trying to block a turbine planned for Winter Island. Peter Carlton of Salem Wind, a group fighting the proposed Salem turbine, said the latest test results prove that wind turbines are much noisier than predicted in the studies done by local municipalities. “I think that confirms our suspicions all along that the noise studies (by cities and towns) are flawed,” . . .
ZBA to hear turbine proposal; Shelburne board moves forward
SHELBURNE — The Zoning Board of Appeals is going ahead with a scheduled public hearing for a wind turbine proposal for Mount Massaemet, on Thursday night, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. This is despite the town’s year-long moratorium on wind turbines, a recent ban on commercial-scale wind turbines, and a recent determination by the Planning Board that a subdivision plan for the project was improperly filed. The application for this new, smaller wind farm was . . .
Answers still blowing in the wind
Lately many articles have been written concerning the controversy over the wind turbines proposed by the Aquaculture Research Corp. at Chapin Beach. I think it’s time to look at some of the real issues that no one wants to talk about. Let me just pose a few questions. We’re all bright people capable of drawing our own conclusions. • Why should a private business be able to ruin a commonly held and loved natural resource? Why should it be able . . .
State takes a second look at its turbine siting process
FAIRHAVEN — Massachusetts officials are reexamining the state’s role in siting wind turbines. An independent panel of scientists commissioned by the Department of Environmental Protection in January issued a report recommending new regulations on wind turbines. They include that the state monitor existing turbines, study noise effects on heavily populated areas and impose noise limits on turbines depending on the population density of their surroundings. The new regulations being considered by the DEP would require the state to review new . . .
Not just a Falmouth problem: across the state people living near wind turbines complain of noise and health effects
Brimfield, MA, May 21, 2012 — Contrary to the claim of Massachusetts DEP Commissioner Ken Kimmell in a recent Boston Globe article, the noise and adverse health effects produced by a wind turbine in the town of Falmouth are not unique. In fact, wherever wind turbines are constructed too close to homes, people suffer from the noise, the consequent loss of sleep, and other chronic impacts. The Boston Globe reported on May 16, 2012 that one of the two town-owned . . .
