December 18, 2018
Rhode Island

Cranston residents up in arms over towering new turbines

By Sarah Doiron, Kim Kalunian | WPRI | Dec 17, 2018 | www.wpri.com

Residents in the Alpine Estates neighborhood are frustrated with seven new wind turbines that were recently constructed near their homes.

Construction on the wind turbines wrapped up last month. The turbines are now towering over several homes, located on the Cranston, Johnston line.

Residents argue the wind turbines are not only an eyesore, but they’re also concerned about the potential negative impacts on their property values and their wellbeing.

“I see five, unobstructed, 519-foot turbines from any window along the back of my home and of course from any part of my backyard,” Cranston resident Christine Kuzman said.

Guzman and several other residents testified in front of the Cranston City Council Monday night, voicing their concerns.

“We are angry and worried because of the high potential of health issues to occur from many people in our neighborhood,” Cranston resident Lynne Haughey said.

Back in September 2017, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena said the turbines would all be built on private industrial sites and wouldn’t be close to any residences.

“It’s in an unobtrusive area where you’re not going to have homes around it that people are going to have issues with basically a lot of it is farmland area old farms,” Polisena said.

But more than one year later, Cranston residents say this is not a reality.

“People who object are always looked upon as naysayers and they say it’s ok somewhere else but not in my backyard,” Sen. Frank Lombardi said. “But that phrase not in my backyard is a term of art. This is in their backyard.”

Cranston’s city attorney said a path to legal relief for residents is unlikely. The City Council President says he’ll introduce a resolution in the new year to have the Attorney General’s office investigate how the turbines came to be.

Eyewitness News reached out to Polisena and the company that owns the turbines but did not immediately hear back.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/12/18/cranston-residents-up-in-arms-over-towering-new-turbines/