Derision of turbine vote ignores historic factors
Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com 6 May 2012
The issue of Aquacultural Research Corp. building a 242-foot wind turbine in the Dennis Historic District on Chapin Beach is about height and site.
The Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District Committee’s decision ruled against it. To belittle the committee for doing its job, as Sean Gonsalves did in his April 22 column, is beyond comprehension.
Of course, abutters have other concerns – the turbine’s impact on property values, health effects, environmental effects, maintenance of and pollution caused by a malfunctioning turbine, and more. These concerns were voiced in a petition signed by more than 90 people from Dennis, Yarmouth and around the country who vacation here.
Locating a turbine on a historic beach near a great marsh is not wise, considering that the area succumbs to intense erosion annually. Also, Dennis taxpayers pay dearly to repair and stay ahead of the forces of nature there annually!
The historic district committee ruled from a given mandate to preserve the area’s historic character. This place is sacred to all of us who live here, because of its history and beauty, and to thousands of tourists who use Chapin and Grays beaches – tourists on whom our economy so desperately depends.
Janet Polito
Yarmouthport
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/06/derision-of-turbine-vote-ignores-historic-factors/