April 5, 2011
Massachusetts

Turbine opponents say moratorium not intended in Bourne

Bourne Courier, www.wickedlocal.com 4 April 2011Bourne Courier, www.wickedlocal.com 4 April 2011

Where New Generation Wind proponents see an opportunity to help Massachusetts achieve green energy goals set by Gov. Deval Patrick, opponents warn the town about industrial strength turbines that will mar scenic vistas and ruin a residential quality of life in Buzzards Bay and Bournedale.

Jim Potter of the Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy, in a letter to “User Submitted News” at the Bourne Courier, contends the group’s citizen petition warrant article designed to amend the town zoning bylaw governing turbine review would not essentially enact a moratorium on the structures.

Bourne Town Planner Coreen Moore, however, says the warrant article as now crafted would indeed make it impossible for New Generation Wind to build its wind farm anywhere in town, except possible Otis air base. (See related account.)

Potter, however, says his group has a GIS map study “to show that a moratorium on wind turbines would not be the case with the amended language. In fact, dozens of smaller ‘community-sized wind turbines (and many more residential sized turbines could be placed in the community and still adhere to the recommended setbacks” that his group promulgates.

Potter says his group’s proposed turbine setbacks – 10 times the diameter of the blades – “closely matches the proposed Cape Cod Commission recommended setbacks for the Cape.”

He says the proposed zoning change to the wind energy systems bylaw calls for turbines to be situated about 3,300 feet from any residential property line; “in contrast to the ‘current bylaw allowed’ 502 feet from any property.”

Potter says the amendment does not prohibit any size turbines, but it only regulates distance according to scale, “which the current bylaw does not do.”

The citizen group contends industrial wind turbines sited near residential areas are known to cause chronic adverse heath effects, such as stress, sleep disturbance, annoyance, migraines and dizziness.

In a phamplet, the group urges voters to not let “private developers exploit open space in Bourne into on-shore industrial wind farms.”

The proposal of Tudor Ingersoll of Buzzards Bay and Sam Lorusso of Hyannis involves land owned by both men, their families and businesses off Scenic Highway.

The New Generation Wind proposal conforms with current zoning. It meets access requirements and environmental setbacks. It is in alignment with the Bournedale area of critical environmental concern (ACEC), the village district of critical planning concern (DCPC) and Bourne’s overall local comprehensive plan (LCP). If constructed, it would provide energy to the nearby Nstar high-tension electric grid that cuts through the village.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/05/turbine-opponents-say-moratorium-not-intended-in-bourne/