State moves to accelerate wind turbine siting
Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts | June 27, 2013 | windwisema.org
Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts | June 27, 2013 | windwisema.org
Residents of communities where wind turbines are being considered may be tempted to sell and move as quickly as possible given the experience of people living near existing turbines.
Today’s ominous press release from the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced “an inter-agency initiative… to provide support and guidance to municipalities, developers and stakeholders for land-based wind projects.”
But those same residents may want to stand their ground, knowing that “The Patrick Administration’s community wind energy initiative is just another attempt by the governor to force the development of hundreds of land-based wind turbines in Massachusetts, despite strong local opposition,” according to Eleanor Tillinghast. She points out:
“The legislature has refused for five years now to go along with [Governor Patrick’s] plan to strip communities of the right to control the location and operation of wind turbines, so now he’s doing an end run by directing his handpicked agencies to come up with a new strategy.”
Tillinghast is on the executive board of Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts, which is concerned that parts of the initiative are aimed at reducing not just local control, but also state noise guidelines. She stated, “This is just another underhanded power grab by the governor who persists in playing politics with the health and well-being of families who live near the wind turbines in order to promote his goal of building additional turbines.”
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/28/state-moves-to-accelerate-wind-turbine-siting/