January 25, 2013
Massachusetts

Representative Vieira files Wind Energy Relief Act

By Sara Mannal | Falmouth Patch | falmouth.patch.com

Representative Vieira filed a bill this month that if passed would establish two funds for residents, businesses and towns that have been adversely affected by industrial wind turbines.

Representative David Vieira (R-Falmouth) filed the bill after various options for dealing with the town’s turbines were presented to selectmen by the Wind Turbine Options Process group, according to a press release.

If passed, the bill would establish two funds using money from the current Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. One fund would set aside $15 million for residents, businesses and towns that incurred losses such as negative health effects and property loss.

The bill calls for a second fund, called the Wind Turbine Decommissioning or Relocation Fund, that would set aside $7.5 million to help towns remove or relocate wind turbines.

“I have filed the Wind Energy Relief Act as a means to open up various options for dealing with the negative impacts of improper siting of wind turbines throughout the Commonwealth. While the situation in Falmouth was the impetus for filing the bill, the relief funds would be available to all municipalities in Massachusetts,” Vieira said in a statement.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/25/representative-vieira-files-wind-energy-relief-act/