May 17, 2013
Massachusetts

Independence turbine owner accuses residents of making false statements

By Kathryn Gallerani | Wicked Local Kingston | Posted May 17, 2013 | www.wickedlocal.com

KINGSTON – Kingston Wind Independence LLC, the owner of the Independence wind turbine, accuses local residents of making “false, baseless and inflammatory statements” in the media while also saying the company’s legal department is “keeping tabs” on public statements they make to protect the company’s reputation.

At the same time they issued the press release that includes what they describe as “fact check information,” the company’s management announced it will not take questions and declined to make any further comment.

The press release doesn’t use names. No one from Kingston Wind Independence signs it. It accuses unnamed residents who live near the Independence of making “false, baseless and inflammatory statements which they know or should have known to be untrue.”

The press release is directed to “KWI wind opponents” and asks that they cease and desist from making false statements against KWI and its turbine.

“We are kindly asking these residents to refrain from making such false statements and baseless accusations in the media,” according to the release. “We have been very hesitant to take legal action for cause of libel and defamanation against them until now, but our patience is running short.”

Asked for her reaction to the news release, Selectmen Chairman Elaine Fiore said KWI partner Kially Ruiz and his partners have the right to express opinions as do the residents of Kingston.

“The Board of Selectmen is waiting for the studies to be completed before we engage in any dialogue pertaining to noise levels or flicker,” she said.

No date has been set, but the Board of Health and Board of Selectmen have agreed to hold a joint meeting to discuss the turbines.

Board of Health Chairman Joe Casna said Ruiz and KWI have been clear they feel their contract with the town is strong and the turbine legally permitted, and that’s pretty clearly the message they’re sending in their statement.

“They’re convinced they have a strong position,” he said.

Casna said the studies will determine what if any mitigation is called for because Ruiz has made it clear at one meeting in particular that he’s also waiting for the study results before he will consider agreeing to anything.

The flicker study for the Independence, Mary O’Donnell’s three wind turbines and the “T” turbine began April 23, and a report should be released June 10. The acoustic study is scheduled to begin in the next week.

Ruiz previously informed the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center that KWI would be ready to cooperate in the conducting of the sound study after May 17. CEC spokesman Catherine Williams said that as of Tuesday there were no updates to the acoustic study timeline.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/17/independence-turbine-owner-accuses-residents-of-making-false-statements/