May 22, 2012
Letters, Massachusetts

Keep saying ‘no’

The Recorder (Greenfield, Massachusetts) | 22 May 2012

As a resident of Shelburne Falls, I would like to thank the voters of Shelburne for banning large-scale industrial wind from the town. I have been following the story as wind developer Fred Field seemed to say one thing, do another and the fate of his wind turbine proposal changed on an almost daily basis. People walked into town meeting in Shelburne thinking they could vote to put this project to rest, only to find out that Field took advantage of a legal loop hole the day before to make sure the vote would not affect his plan. Now in a separate action, the Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposal that may or may not be dead due to the glitch in Mr. Field’s handling of the subdivision application to the Planning Board. We could see yet another new wrinkle in the story by the day of the hearing.

Even if only symbolic, if we want to put a final nail in the coffin on this project for the next two years, the Shelburne ZBA needs to decide that the turbines don’t meet the town’s bylaw standards or the ZBA needs to accept Mr. Field’s withdrawal of his proposal, should he request that, “with prejudice.”

Please attend the ZBA hearing on the Field application, Thursday, May 24 8 p.m. at the Elementary School in Shelburne. These wind turbines seem to be a nightmare that just never wants to go away. Wouldn’t it be great if the ZBA stood with the voters of Shelburne and said “no thanks” to industrial wind turbines on Mount Massaemet? If you would like the ZBA to know how you feel, this hearing will be another chance to have your say. For more information please see www.shelburnewind.info.

LAMIA HOLLAND Shelburne Falls (Buckland side)


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/22/keep-saying-no/