September 20, 2013
Massachusetts

Turbines: Sound study starts Oct. 7

By Kathryn Gallerani | Wicked Local Kingston | Posted Sep 20, 2013 | www.wickedlocal.com

KINGSTON – The next wave of flickering light is touching the tips of the treetops, and neighbors of the wind turbine are preparing.

Leland Road resident Dan Alves said flicker would impact his house directly once again very soon, putting the health of his children in danger. There have been signs of it on the trees already, he added, and Monday night he asked the Board of Health do to something to alleviate the impact.

Copper Beech Drive resident David Kennedy said flicker doesn’t need to enter a home to be a nuisance. It can also affect homeowners elsewhere on their property.

Instead, Chairman Joe Casna said the Board of Health will continue the process of creating new flicker regulations and selecting a consultant who can advise the board on flicker and sound.

Casna announced that the acoustical study of the Independence wind turbine on the town’s capped landfill will begin Monday, Oct. 7. The state Department of Environmental Protection will monitor the study.

The board wants to hire a consultant to review existing turbines studies on sound and flicker. It will extend invitations to Tech Environmental, K2 Management, Richard Bolton and, possibly, Steve Ambrose for interviews, which will begin at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30.

Several residents questioned whether it was appropriate to hire consultants to the wind industry, particularly a company like Tech Environmental that has previous experience with the Independence wind turbine.

“I don’t think they are going to represent the residents of Kingston,” Leland Road resident Doreen Reilly said.

Board member Jack Breen said he opposes ruling out Tech Environmental without first interviewing someone from the company. What he would ask of the consultant, he said, is that a specific point person be assigned to work with the board. Neither would he rule out rejecting all of the firms or individuals interviewed.

Similarly, board member Bill Watson said he’s willing to listen and then judge each of the applicants based on the information they provide.

Residents won’t get to ask questions of these consultants at that meeting but can submit questions in writing to the health office by Sept. 23. The board will review the questions and generate a list for public preview.

While the Board of Health can make a recommendation, the Board of Selectmen has to approve funding for the consultant.