June 4, 2013
Massachusetts

Webster hears about wind turbine permits, paddleboats

Janet Stoica | Telegram & Gazette | June 4, 2013 | www.telegram.com

WEBSTER – Selectmen heard from State Representative Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), who represents Webster, as he gave updates on local news governing Webster. Rep. Fattman reviewed his meeting results with the Blueberry Hill neighborhood association regarding the 11 wind turbines that were scheduled to be built near their homes on Douglas town land.

The original wind turbine company had gone bankrupt and the Texas corporation poised to take over the project did not secure funding to go forward.

Rep. Fattman said that the original turbine permits would expire in fall 2013.

Additionally, he reviewed EBT Card (food stamp) reforms requiring photo IDs as well as Social Security numbers to prevent fraud. He requested the board’s support and also detailed landlord accountability reform in the case of rental properties and absentee landlord issues. He requested the board’s support toward legal amendments in this area as well.

Rep. Fattman’s discussed a 40-foot paddleboat that the owner of Indian Ranch Campgrounds/Entertainment on Webster Lake was bringing to Webster in the next few weeks. Lake residents filled the selectmen’s meeting room to show their support of obtaining restrictions on the vessel citing safety, docking, fueling and weed control hazards. Appeals had been made to the Massachusetts Environmental Police without success and special state legislation is in progress to ensure regulations for the boat. Rep. Fattman told the Board that “no state permits for lake docking or wide-load transportation had been pulled yet and that two weeks’ advance notice was a requirement for the permits.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/04/webster-hears-about-wind-turbine-permits-paddleboats/