Readers’ view: indefinitely postpone Article 44 (wind facilities)
Duxbury Clipper, eduxbury.com 7 March 2012
Duxbury Clipper, eduxbury.com 7 March 2012
The Duxbury Alternative Energy Committee and Duxbury Wind Wise, a group of residents concerned with the responsible use of wind energy in Town are in agreement on recommending that Town Meeting indefinitely postpone Article 44, an amendment to the Wind Turbine Bylaw. On February 28, the AEC voted to discontinue its current pursuit of a wind turbine in Duxbury and to formally request that the Board of Selectmen appoint a Wind Advisory Committee to study and address the issues that have divided opinions over the past seven months on building a wind turbine in town. The committee will be comprised of members of the AEC and citizens at large including members of Duxbury Wind Wise. After months of contention over issues surrounding the potential benefits and risks of a wind turbine in Duxbury with opinions varying widely on issues such as the aesthetic impact, residential siting, height, economics, health effects and the impact on property values, we decided it was better to work together to resolve them. An additional goal of the committee will be to inform and educate both citizens and various town boards on its conclusions. To date, the AEC and the citizens on both sides of this discussion have worked hard to understand the issues surrounding wind development while often finding themselves on opposite sides of the debate. Duxbury is not alone in Massachusetts, as many cities and towns face similar debates. At our joint meeting on February 28th, we agreed that it would be important for Duxbury to take a leadership position, set its own standard and put a committee of informed citizens in place to facilitate civil dialogue seeking consensus that represents the best interests of our town. This will also enable the AEC to continue to work on its higher priority of meeting Duxbury’s renewable energy goals with solar energy.
So, it is with great conviction and resolve that we respectfully ask the citizens of Duxbury to support our cooperative effort to indefinitely postpone Article 44 at this Saturday’s town meeting.
Jim Goldenberg
Alternative Energy Committee
Chris Sherman
Duxbury Wind Wise.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/07/readers-view-indefinitely-postpone-article-44-wind-facilities/