January 12, 2012
Massachusetts

No wind turbine for Duxbury

Duxbury Clipper, eduxbury.com 11 January 2012

Duxbury’s Alternative Energy Committee (AEC) voted last night not to pursue siting a wind turbine in town. According to the chairman of the committee, Jim Goldenberg, the reason was one of economics.

“The solar projects we’re seeing are providing us a better rate than the turbine,” said Goldenberg. “Given that we have these solar options and it’s 2/3 the cost of wind, it doesn’t make sense to have wind.”

Goldenberg said the vote wasn’t in response to Wind Wise, a group of local residents who have presented strong opposition to the proposed wind turbine, though the committee did take under advisement their concerns. Goldenberg said the committee’s decision was based on the facts before them and its fiscal responsibility to the town.

“It really didn’t have anything to do with public outcry,” said Goldenberg. “We were sensitive to them, but…this decision was arrived at independent of the opposition. If there weren’t opposition, we still would have come to the same conclusion.”

The AEC also voted to withdraw an article they placed on the Town Warrant seeking funds for a wind turbine feasibility study.

Joanne Levesque, a member of Wind Wise, said she attended the meeting and was thrilled and relieved by the vote.

“I’m just very happy that they decided to do what I consider is the right thing, to pursue more passive energy,” said Levesque. “If the finances are better and it’s more passive, it sounds like a win-win for everyone.”

Levesque said she would meet with the other members of her group to discuss withdrawing two articles they placed on the Town Warrant that would amend a town bylaw allowing for community-scale wind facilities.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/12/no-wind-turbine-for-duxbury/