November 22, 2011
Letters, Massachusetts

Loud, underused Route 43 turbines

The Berkshire Eagle, www.berkshireeagle.com 22 November 2011

With all the decisions and opinions being voiced in south Berkshire about the wind turbines, I thought my opinion from experience might help.

I live in Hancock and have a clear close-up view of Jiminy Peak turbine out my south window and 10 turbines on the top of Brodie Mountain ridge from the northwest windows. The first one on Jiminy was really neat. It was pleasant to look at and was producing green energy to power a large user.

Then came the 10 along most of Route 43 to Williamstown. I had no strong objection at the onset but did worry about the scenery. Now that they have been in operation for almost a year, I have lots to tell you folks in south county.

They do disturb the scenery and the quiet. If you live within a mile they are loud, sounding like a jet plane flying high overhead.

What really bothers me is that on any given day only 8 of the 10 are running. Speculation is that the grid doesn’t need the electricity, so they are turned off (not always the same two). I wonder if that is true and what’s up with that!

So why do we want to cover our beautiful hills with turbines if we aren’t going to use them to the fullest? Please consider carefully and get all the information you can before you decide.

JUDY WHITMAN

Hancock


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/22/loud-underused-route-43-turbines/