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Fairhaven group opposes windmill
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The members of WindWise Fairhaven say they’re not against wind power – they just don’t want a windmill near their bike path.
Members of the citizen’s group and a selectman candidate voiced concerns about wind turbines to about 20 citizens at a meeting in the Fire Station last night.
“I, too, am worried about global warming. I saw Al Gore’s movie. But we need to look into this more. I have a lot of concerns,” said selectman candidate Ann Ponichtera DeNardis.
The group is concerned about the impact that two industrial turbines would have on the Little Bay Area.
The location was also a concern because it’s next to the bike path “where mothers walk with their children,” Ms. DeNardis said.
“I have concerns that we have a developer (James Sweeney of CCI Energy) putting this in,” she said.
“I asked him, ‘What if this breaks down? Do we go to you?’ … This guy told me flat-out, ‘It’s not my problem. I’m just putting it up.'”
That statement caused WindWise member Kenneth Pottel to shake his head and chuckle, “That’s nice.”
Mr. Pottel is adamant that not enough research has been done regarding the turbines and that Fairhaven citizens have not been given the opportunity to weigh in on the decision.
“Our position is a reasonable one: We want a period for public comment. We want to get people informed,” he said at the meeting. “We’re asking selectmen for public input.”
Mr. Pottel urged all members of the public to attend the Selectmen’s meeting tonight at Town Hall at 8 p.m. when the board is scheduled to vote on whether to put the proposed turbines on the warrant for Town Meeting.
“I’ve got five people coming from my friends and family. See how many you can bring,” he told the crowd. “We’re all in this together.”
WindWise member John Methia discussed possible dangers from the turbines, such as “strobe effect,” which is when the sun gets low in the sky and rotating blades make it look like a strobe light going off in nearby homes.
“Wind noise is another major concern. Property values are diminished. The turbines can get struck by lightning and can catch fire.”
By Lauren Daley
Standard-Times staff writer
26 March 2007
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