May 2, 2012
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Shelburne residents unanimously approve wind turbine moratorium
Yoojin Cho, WWLP, www.wwlp.com 2 May 2012
Yoojin Cho, WWLP, www.wwlp.com 2 May 2012
Hundreds of Shelburne residents voted to approve petitions that will not allow any large, commercial scale wind turbines at their annual town meeting Tuesday night.
They also unanimously approved the Wind Turbine Moratorium that says the town will not issue any wind turbines permits until June 30, 2013, after the Zoning Board has some time to update its rules and regulations.
Developers proposed to construct industrial scale turbines on Mount Massaemet, but many residents told 22News, while renewable energy may be beneficial, Shelburne is just not the right place for it.
Barbara Parry told 22News, “We have a sheep farm, and I’ve read numerous reports that the pulsation from wind turbines can make people sick and animals as well.”
“It’s more annoying than living next to Logan Airport,” Raymond Hartman of Shelburne said. “It’s more annoying than living near a railroad. It creases such a low infrasound, and it interferes with your inner ear. It causes nausea. It causes headaches.”
But some people said they believe the town shouldn’t oppose wind turbines right away.
Kim Levitch of Shelburne told 22News, “Turbines are the future technology, but if it’s for that location on Mount Massaemet or not, that’s open for more study.”
Alex Wilson of Shelburne said, “I believe in wind energy, and I believe that we need to get that energy from somewhere. I don’t necessarily like the idea of saying we’ll never have wind energy in this area at all.”