More protection needed
Falmouth Enterprise | Oct. 5, 2012
Falmouth Board of Selectmen have engaged every possible political angle to protect town turbines. The planning board has delivered a bylaw that will hopefully prevent this siting mistake from ever happening in the future. And finally, the Falmouth Board of Health, fully aware of the present problems, takes no action to prevent harm.
Town Counsel Frank Duffy has stated that the board of health can shut down the turbines if they cause health problems. The board’s endorsement of the night curtailment of town turbines indicates that they do believe the turbines cause health problems (sleep disruption). It’s justified (in lieu of a proper health study), after being presented similar health testimonials at the board of health’s emergency hearing, and further, by the continuing daytime health complaints, to conclude that the turbines may very well cause other health problems, too (i.e. cognitive difficulty, head-aches, vertigo, tinnitus). Sixty per- cent of these neighbors’ testimonials cannot be ignored, no matter the politics involved.
Falmouth Health Agent David Carignan has said that the board can pass a health regulation as long as it’s reasonable. How “reasonable” is a policy that rations only 12 hours of health protection a day? Chief Sullivan’s and Chief Riello’s “heads would roll” if this were the policy at the fire and police departments.
Studies (as recent as the Massachusetts Expert Panel Report, January 2012), have proven that more research of wind turbine noise and wake effect on human health needs to be conducted. The fact remains that wind turbine operations so close to residents have not been thoroughly examined for any of the negative health effects on our Falmouth residents. Yet, 12 hours a day, someone in my neighborhood still suffers.
The board of health must ultimately own its responsibility to the community, err on the side of caution and protect all of its residents, all of the time.
Mark J. Cool
Fire Tower Road
West Falmouth
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/06/more-protection-needed/