LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Finance Committee puts focus on impact of turbines on revenue 

Credit:  By C. KAZARIAN, Falmouth Enterprise, 14 October 2011 ~~

Falmouth Finance Committee concluded its recommendations of Town Meeting articles this week, including those that could generate the most discussion and possibly the most passion as they deal with the town-owned wind turbines at the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Since the first turbine, Wind 1, became operational in March of last year, it has become the subject of controversy as abutters have complained about its impact on their health and property values.

The latest chapter in the saga will be played out on Town Meeting floor in November, with Article 9 the centerpiece. Submitted by Barry J. Funfar of Ridgeview Drive, West Falmouth, the article asks that the two wind turbines—Wind 2 is set to go online next month—be shut down until all options for the machines are explored and research and studies show no harm is being done to residents living nearby “to the satisfaction of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Health.”

The finance committee took no vote on the article (9) as Chairman Gary W. Anderson noted that selectmen will be making their recommendation on Town Meeting floor.

But the committee did highlight the revenue that could be lost and the expense that could be incurred, should the article pass.

Finance committee member Robert G. Ripley Jr. started with the revenue, saying that the town would lose out on $975,000, should the turbines go off-line. That would only be the tip of the financial impacts felt by Falmouth. Beyond that, Mr. Ripley said Falmouth would need to pay $120,000 to cover the energy costs for the Wastewater Treatment Facility that are currently provided by Wind 1.

And then Mr. Ripley mentioned the $524,000 in debt service that Falmouth has to repay for money the town borrowed to purchase and erect the first wind turbine.

Mr. Anderson mentioned the $1 million for renewable energy certificates the town received from the then-Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. These certificates represent the energy expected to be generated by the turbine between the years of 2015 and 2029.

Finance committee member Susan P. Smith asked what would happen to the $5 million stimulus grant the town received from the state to erect Wind 2. Mr. Anderson said that is another concern, one that Falmouth Town Counsel Frank K. Duffy Jr. is looking into.

Some committee members asked who would be speaking on behalf of the town, to which Mr. Anderson said it would most likely be Wastewater Superintendent Gerald C. Potamis or Assistant Wastewater Superintendent Amy A. Lowell.

Mr. Ripley suggested that this one article could generate a lot of emotion on Town Meeting floor. “I think it will be a good one,” he said, to which a fellow committee member blurted out “it’s going to be ugly.”

Committee member Deborah D. Maguire asked whether there was any thought about taking down the turbines and attempting to sell them. Mr. Anderson said that was tied to Article 31, which seeks $30,000 to fund consulting services that would study four potential options to resolve the turbine dilemma in town.

Source:  By C. KAZARIAN, Falmouth Enterprise, 14 October 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon