A perception of deception
Firetower Wind | Jan 9, 2013 | mjoecool.wordpress.com
It’s been brought to my attention:
– On June 17, 2009 the Massachusetts Departments of Energy Resources (DOER) and Conservation and Recreation (DCR) hosted a ‘listening session’ vetting Public Concerns about Wind Turbine Siting.
– The meeting was facilitated by DOER Commissioner Phillip Giudice and DRC Commissioner Rick Sullivan.
– The session was held at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. MMA is located at 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
During the Public Comment, three specific and thorough pieces of testimony delivered warning of the questionable residential setback minima recommended by state authorities, relating to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act. The links below, making possible the viewing of the ‘public record’ of comments, had once been available. However, those three public comments seemingly have been expunged (removed atleast, from internet viewing access).
Comment # 1 – 2009 remarks
http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/renewables/wind/Public%20Comments_Listening%20Session%201_Bridget%20Earle.pdf
Comment # 2 – 2009 remarks
http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/renewables/wind/Public%20Comments_Wind%20On%20State%20Owned%20Lands_Listening%20Session%201_Frank%20Haggerty%20%20Joe%20DeLeo.pdf
Comment # 3 -2009 remarks
http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/renewables/wind/Public%20Comments_Listening%20Se
If predisposed to the Public’s Trust on the wind turbine siting issue, the State of Massachusetts should restore links of the testimony, given by the public for public record, on the state government web site. The public, quite easily, could speculate that disappearance of public records would be an obstacle to government transparency.
As a matter of context, the listening session in 2009 was designed, in part, to ‘re-test the water’ for re-marketing the two Vestas V82 industrial wind turbines owned by the state’s agency advocating renewable energy – the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC). Better know today as the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MCEC). Falmouth’s Wind 1 and the Webb Notus are those turbines previously owned by the MTC. In 2005-2006, those two turbines were part of a state sponsored plan to have the town of Marion MA host the development of a wind energy project. The citizens of Marion rejected the plan. These missing URLS and public testimonies were comments that came from people who had already gone through the Marion battle.
The State of Massachusetts seemed aware of siting issues in 2009, yet state consultants (MTC/MCEC) recommended the Falmouth Wind 1 plan forward with it’s 2010 installation.
Could this simply be an “off-loading” of a costly state problem onto an innocently eager community wanting to save energy funds? Could deleted public testimonies tell a clearer and more compelling truth? Could deleting the testimonies be what was necessary to prevent political embarrassment… at the state, and (God forbid) the local level?
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/10/a-perception-of-deception/