David Moriarty organizing conference on negative impact of wind turbines 

David R. Moriarty of Lower Road, West Falmouth, and Marshall Rosenthal of Savoy, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires, are organizing a conference on the negative effects of large wind turbines near homes. The event will take place at the main branch of the Falmouth Public Library on Saturday, November 10, from 1 to 4 PM.

“What we’re really doing is warning people about the dangers of industrial wind turbines,” Mr. Moriarty said. Mr. Moriarty said people from Falmouth, elsewhere in Massachusetts and around the world will participate in the conference. Some panelists are from Australia and will attend the conference virtually through internet video connections, Mr. Moriarty said.

The conference will focus on changing the pro-wind policies at all levels of government to other forms of renewable energy like photovoltaic solar power, and to protect residents from wind developers.

The men formed what they are calling the Falmouth Committee on Human Rights two months ago to address problems with wind turbines near residences. “We’re really a loose group, we don’t have official members,” Mr. Moriarty said. “As the conference builds, we’re building the group. We’re just trying to get the word out.”

The conference is drawing interest from elsewhere in the country and the world through internet groups that oppose wind power, Mr. Moriarty said. “This problem is way too big for Falmouth,” Mr. Moriarty said. People who live near the wind turbines are being driven from their homes, he said. “The people that brought it to town refuse to help and we’re going to put their feet to the fire.” They plan to focus on other human rights issues later, but for now will be focused solely on changing wind turbine policies,

Mr. Moriarty said. It is Mr. Moriarty’s hope that the conference will be a model for other communities to stand up to local, state and national governments who promote wind power. “That is our hope that this will be the shot heard around the world,” he said. The ultimate goal for Mr. Moriarty is to have the large wind turbines in Falmouth taken down. “We don’t really care where they go and we don’t really care how much they cost,” he said.

Mr. Rosenthal, the other member of the group, has never been to Falmouth before. He is opposed to a development of 100 industrial scale wind turbines planned for his own area. Another turbine development of 1.5 megawatt turbines, a total of 19, near North Adams has been erected, but the turbines have not been turned on. “I think that the impact on local populations will be profound,” he said.

From his own research Mr. Rosenthal said turbines within two to three miles of homes will produce health impacts on residents. “We perceive that there’s a government and industry corporate agenda to put as many of these things, particularly in Massachusetts, onto the shore lines and onto the ridge lines and out to sea,” said Mr. Rosenthal. “We feel as though we now understand quite well that industrial wind power doesn’t work.”

The event on November 10 will highlight what the organizers feel is the impact of wind turbines on the normal pursuit of a happy, healthful and peaceful life. Planned for the event are presentations by Dr. Nina Pierpoint, author of Wind Turbine Syndrome; Dr. Sarah Laurie of the Waubra Foundation from Australia, which studies health effects of wind turbines; Carmen Krogh, specialist in pharmacology and the human rights challenge posed by industrial wind power, from Ontario, Canada; John Droz, physicist and expert in the political economics of wind power; Kurt Tromposch, retired engineer; Lilli Green and Preston Ribnik, who have documented the experiences of Australians who live near turbines. Mr. Krogh and Mr. Droz will be at the conference in person while the other members will connect via internet video, Mr. Moriarty said.

People from Falmouth, Fairhaven, and elsewhere in southeastern New England will relate their own experiences living with the turbines and their problems getting relief from the local boards of health and boards of selectmen. From Falmouth, Neil P. Anderson, Suzanne C. Hobart, Mark J. Cool, and Barry A. Funfar are expected to participate in the panel discussion.

There will be time for questions and answers afterwards, Mr. Moriarty said. He expects a large crowd of at least 190 people, which will fill the Hermann room at the library, so he has also reserved two other rooms for over-flow crowds and small group discussions.