December 7, 2010
Massachusetts, Opinions

More data needed on Brewster turbines

By Greg Norgeot, The Cape Codder, www.wickedlocal.com 7 December 2010

I am writing to pose what I think are some very important and as of yet unanswered questions about the construction of two 450-foot tall (40-story) wind turbines off Freemans Way in Brewster.

These turbines are at this point one town committee decision (planning board) away from becoming a reality. In what I see as a bit of a rush to judgment, the Brewster town officials have pushed this process through without clearly informing the taxpayers what the pros and cons of such a project might be.

Has anyone seen much press about the possibility of their construction? Do Orleans residents on Route 39 and Tar Kiln Road know that they will be closer to the turbines and any positive and or negative effects of their construction than many Brewster residents?

Further, when questions have been posed to town officials and the turbine management company (Cape and Vineyard Electrical Cooperative), their answers go only as far as the law requires them to respond.

Here are just a few questions that I have heard come up and not heard adequate answers to:

With what degree of certainty can CVEC guarantee the income from these turbines? Make no mistake this is first and foremost a business decision for the town and CVEC. Is it worth the risk?

What plans have been made to dismantle the turbines if the energy produced is no longer viable financially?

Are there issues with turbine infrasound and low frequency noise? If once the turbines are built and there are issues with people getting sick, what recourse will residents have?

Can you assure the neighboring residents that their real estate values will not be affected negatively? What if they are?

Can you assure all town residents that our town water aquifer will not be affected? (They are being placed within striking distance of our watershed area.)

Can you assure that all the workers and tenants of Commerce Park will be safe from any health effects and or industrial accidents that such a proximity to the turbines might bring?

Are there plans for additional turbines down the road, which will be placed ever closer to the residents of Brewster and neighboring towns?

There are serious questions that need to be answered and brushing them aside as not required is not a responsible position. This project will affect many Cape residents and a fair, balanced and in-depth discussion with all parties is required.

Posting a public notice of a public hearing in the newspaper on a project with such scope and import is not fair to the residents of Brewster. If this project is the right thing to do, a deep breath from all concerned might be beneficial. I understand that town officials have been working on this for a number of years but the majority of the residents of the town have only just become aware of its pending approval.