November 12, 2010
Massachusetts

Bournedale wind plan generates conflict: Developers concerned with selectmen’s vote

By Paul Gately, BOURNE COURIER, www.wickedlocal.com 12 November 2010

BOURNE – Wind plan generates conflict

Developers concerned with vote of selectmen

The Cape Cod Commission will conduct its third public hearing into the proposed Bournedale wind-farm proposal.

The session will be held Monday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Bourne High School Professional Library off Waterhouse and Trowbridge Roads. Testimony is invited.

New Generation Wind LLC proposes six wind turbines off Scenic Highway and one just west of the Route 25 connector toward Grazing Fields Farm.

Bourne selectmen oppose the location of the structures, saying that their industrial scale is inappropriate next to three residential neighborhoods. The Bourne Board of Health will consider the proposal at Town Hall tonight, Nov 10.

Three turbines would be constructed on the Cape Cod Aggregates complex at 665 Scenic Highway. Whether the wind-farm venture is gaining traction and momentum in town is difficult to gauge. It is equal parts science, green technology, business fortunes, alternative energy, turbine location arguments, conflicting public health concerns, panoramic impacts and public sentiment; along with the promise of increased tax revenue flowing to the town.

New Generation Wind in a full-page newspaper advertisement hiked its public relations arguments in favor of its proposal, taking direct issue with what it called the “pre-emptive and unfair action” taken last month by Bourne selectmen while the plan is in Cape Cod Commission staff review and a critical decision is pending.

The Ingersoll and Lorusso families, allied as New Generation Wind, pleaded in their ad for “a fair hearing before the Bourne Planning Board and Cape Cod Commission.”

Ethics issue

Planning board chairman Chris Farrell, acting as a private citizen, earlier had filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Ethics Commission about Selectman Jamie Sloniecki’s apparent conflict of interest, which arose after Sloniecki voted against the turbines’ location.

Sloniecki at the end of the week said he has no conflict. He said he had heard nothing official from the state ethics board. He said he is friendly with housing contractor Mark Hebb who has a financial stake in developments neighboring the proposed turbines, but that they never discuss official town business.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/12/bournedale-wind-plan-generates-conflict-developers-concerned-with-selectmens-vote/