Let your voice be heard on siting of wind turbines
Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com 15 October 2011
Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com 15 October 2011
Over the past few years, in many Cape towns, proposed industrial-size wind turbines have been rejected by local boards, or by town meeting voters. These events have been true democracy in action.
However, there are state bills pending (referred to as the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act) that would severely cripple local and regional control. This legislation would give the state control over the regulations for granting these turbines a permit, and establishing an Energy Facilities Siting Board as the exclusive arbiter.
The problem is that this board would mostly include state-level proponents of wind energy. Massachusetts has established a goal of having 20 percent of its electricity generated by renewable energy (currently in the single digits) by 2020. These decisions will be based on political considerations, not on the health and well being of the residents.
At 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Barnstable High School, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy will hold a public hearing on these bills. This is our one chance of giving our input on these plans.
Preserve local control over these industrial structures that would endanger our health and forever change our Cape Cod landscape – come speak your mind.
Mitch Relin
Brewster
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/15/let-your-voice-be-heard-on-siting-of-wind-turbines/