March 27, 2013
Massachusetts

Scituate: Neighbors disagree on town wind turbine operator’s noise study firm recommendation

By John Penny | March 27, 2013 | 95.9 WATD-FM | 959watd.com

The Scituate Board of Health met Tuesday night to focus on the company to be hired to conduct a noise study of the town’s municipal wind turbine, which neighbors say is making them ill.

Two firms responded to a request for proposal to do the noise study – one backed by wind turbine operator Scituate Wind LLC and the other by the neighbors.

Scituate Wind’s Gordon Dean told the board that they recommend the company they have endorsed – Tech Environmental – over the neighbor’s choice, Noise Control Engineering.

Dean told the board, “Part of the RFP process is that Scituate Wind would review the proposals and provide our recommendations. Our recommendation to the board is that it go with Tech Environmental.”

Neighborhood liaison Tom Thompson told the board they’re ready to hire their own noise study firm that will operate under more stringent parameters.

“We know that in some point in time the RFP – such as it is designed – that there will be a determination as to an acoustic engineer Scituate Wind is happy with. So it’s our intention to engage an acoustical consultant to conduct the scope as we have designed it at the exact same time as this, (Scituate Wind’s study).

Thompson said he’s not at all surprised about Scituate Winds recommendation.

“I wrote down on a little piece of paper months ago, that the recommendation coming out of the developer was going to be Tech Environmental. I mean – that’s not a surprise at all!”

The Board of Health has scheduled a meeting for Thursday to interview both Tech Environmental and Noise Control Engineering.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/27/scituate-neighbors-disagree-on-town-wind-turbine-operators-noise-study-firm-recommendation/