August 13, 2010
Massachusetts

Norwell: Neighbors voice opposition to wind turbine proposal

The Norwell zoning board held a hearing Wednesday night for a special permit for the construction of a wind tower on the Mount Blue Farm property.

Several neighbors turned out to rally against the proposal by Mount Blue Farm owner Bruce Meacham, to put up a 200-foot wind tower, to see if there’s enough wind to support the construction of one or possibly two full blown wind turbines. However, that’s shaping up to be a tough sell to the neighbors. Jim Trenz is one of the neighbors, that opposes the plan.

Trenz said, “A 200-foot tall tower with a flashing red beacon, doesn’t fit in with the local residential neighborhood current use and development, noise level and zoning. The diminution of property values up to 50% and destruction of the quiet nature of the neighborhood, would be a detriment to purchase and occupy residences within the site or sound of the wind generator.”

Bruce Meacham says the goal of his commercial venture is to dissuade housing development in the area and to sell electricity to the town. He also disputes the argument that property values would be affected by the wind turbines.

Meacham said, “If I can cut a power purchase agreement with the town that guarantees the town a fixed rate for 10 to 15 years, that will hold taxes down. The argument that property values will go down is false. That what everyone along Greenbush claimed and their property values went up.”

We’d like disclose that an employee here at WATD is also a neighbor in the area. The hearing is continued until September 22.

URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/13/norwell-neighbors-voice-opposition-to-wind-turbine-proposal/

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