Falmouth Finance Committee avoids juggling windy issue
Mark J. Cool, falmouth
The accounting by Falmouth’s Finance Committee, of what the town stands to lose if article 9 should pass, is misleading. The projection figures used imply Wind 1’s permanent stoppage. Article 9 stipulates a suspension of operation only until certain provisions are met. The outcomes of which, are to be examined in at spring 2012 town meeting.
Falmouth did sign all contracts agreeing to pay money back if they didn’t deliver Renewable Energy Credits to MA Clean Energy Center (MCEC) and on debt repayment service etc.
Was any discussion held about MCEC’s liability? MCEC (Mass Technology Collaborative at the time) Co-Sponsored Falmouth’s Wind 1 project. It was MCEC who sold Wind 1 to Falmouth. WIND 1 was MCEC’s industrial wind turbine “Flagship Trophy” on Cape Cod. MCEC chaperoned first phase site studies and energy surveys, implying it was a wonderfully bully project. It was MCEC’s expertise, consultation and assurances that Falmouth officials relied upon when the Town chose to move ahead with the project.
Currently, there’s an State comprised expert panel examining wind turbine health effect. Tomorrow on Beacon Hill, there’s a State public hearing on five (5) separate bills urging further health examination of effect from wind turbines.
Maybe the Finance Committee should be discussing MCEC putting some (taxpayer) money back where their Co-Sponsorship mouth was? It’s certainly a valid consideration making for an easier pill to swallow, until more health related, rather than financial, FACTS are uncovered.
A more accurate point of fiance discussion at the next meeting might be what 6 month price tag equals the value of a citizen’s health?
Mark J. Cool
Fire Tower Rd.
Falmouth
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/17/falmouth-finance-committee-avoids-juggling-windy-issue/