Critical points on turbine discussion
The Hingham Journal, www.wickedlocal.com 12 March 2011
Without desiring to unduly belabor the ongoing discussion of the proposed turbine on Turkey Hill, I wish to offer just a few brief points for consideration.
While Cohasset has voted for wind turbine construction within their town, Hingham has not similarly voted for wind. As noted in John Leonard’s letter to the editor published on March 3, Hingham residents have supported a non-binding referendum, which broadly supported the development of wind power in the Commonwealth in general, however this is not the same as voting for turbine construction specifically within the Town of Hingham.
In light of this important distinction, it becomes particularly troubling that Cohasset feels perfectly free to impose upon Hingham residents the undesired byproducts of a turbine built in too close proximity to a Hingham residential area. Residents who oppose the unwelcome intrusion of sound and strobe-flicker upon their homes should be protected by living in an area that has not voted for turbine construction. For this reason, it appears that The Trustees of Reservations have selected a site that is inherently unfair, where there is no representation for the views of those who will bear the burden of this turbine’s detrimental impact.
Affected Hingham homeowners have been struck by the degree to which The Trustees of Reservations have been willing to force this turbine upon their neighbors.
The extent to which this is true was revealed at the Cohasset Planning Board meeting on Feb. 23. For several months, Trustees staffers have been stating that the Golden Living Center is in support of the turbine. (They are immediately adjacent to the turbine, and other than Trustee property, they are to be the most affected by sound and strobe-flicker.) However, at this meeting, one board member made reference to a recent letter of opposition. It turns out that Golden Living is actually opposed to the project, and according to this letter (viewable in the Board records), plans to sue if the Trustees proceed with the turbine proposal in its current form.
The trustees have publicly claimed many times that the strobe-flicker impact upon the Golden Living Center can be controlled by the installation of black-out shades. It now appears that these residents don’t wish to spend their sunset years sitting in the dark. Who can blame them?
Dr. Stephen Shoemaker
275 East St
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/12/critical-points-on-turbine-discussion/