April 30, 2012
Massachusetts

Shelburne residents to vote on wind turbines Tuesday

By Natalie Tolomeo, WSHM, www.cbs3springfield.com 30 April 2012

Some Franklin County residents in Shelburne Falls are worried that wind turbines could come to the area. They’ve started a citizen-driven zoning bylaw change that Shelburne residents will soon vote on.

Residents will be voting on the issue Tuesday night, but Monday, some opponents took advantage of the day to get their message out loud and clear.

In picturesque Shelburne Falls, a small group gathered on the iconic Bridge of Flowers, standing over the Deerfield River, connecting Shelburne to Buckland. Mount Massaemet paints the Western backdrop. That’s the proposed site for four, industrial-sized wind turbines stretching nearly 400 feet into the sky. However, some residents don’t want them in town.

“The industrial wind turbines that would be placed here would not benefit Shelburne,” said resident Raymond Hartman. “It would be sold into the grid.”

Lamia Holland, of neighboring Buckland, also does not want the wind turbines.

“I think that we’ve done our homework,” she said. “We know that they’re bad for the environment, they’re bad for our health, they’re bad for property values. People in town have a right to decide whether they want them or not.”

These opponents say that most residents don’t want the turbines, but tomorrow residents will take an official stance when they vote on the citizens’ petition. It’s a vote to establish a moratorium, which means if the majority of townspeople vote “yes” on 17, 18, 19, and 20, then no one will be voting on any wind-related proposals for the next year. Town officials took no stance on the issue and everyone in town we spoke with was worried about the wind.

“The only way to give the town what it really wants, which is a moratorium, is to vote for the ban to put the brakes on the application for wind installation,” said Barbara Parry, of Shelburne.

All Shelburne voters can attend the Town Hall meeting Tuesday night at 7:30 in Shelburne’s Memorial Hall.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/30/shelburne-residents-to-vote-on-wind-turbines-tuesday/