Wind Power News: Massachusetts
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
RFP to go out next month for turbines’ removal in Falmouth
The Town of Falmouth plans on issuing requests for proposals by mid- to late December to have the two wind turbines at the wastewater treatment plant dismantled. The news of momentum in removing the turbines came during the Monday night, November 22, select board meeting, when Finance Director Jennifer Mullen and special counsel Christopher Morog presented an update to board members. The procurement process has been slowed by lack of precedence, Mr. Morog said. There is not a provision in . . . Complete story »
Falmouth inches closer to turbine removal
November 22, 2021 Falmouth’s Select Board was provided a wind turbine disposition update. The final review of the bid documents (RFP – request for proposals) by the town staff, the town’s special counsel, the contracted project/procurement consultant (Westin & Sampson) and the town’s Waste Water Superintendent was completed last week. It’s notable that in the Sept 13 2019 edition of the Falmouth Enterprise – Town Manager Julian M. Suso said “… Taking down the town’s wind turbines is taking longer than expected. . . . Complete story »
Right whale coalition calls for moratorium on wind turbines to protect endangered species
A local citizens group has announced the creation of the Save Right Whales Coalition, which is determined to stop offshore wind turbine projects that members say could harm whales. “Any species whose numbers are this low requires that we not take any additional action that could harm these whales,” political and environmental author and activist Michael Shellenberger said of the endangered North Atlantic right whales. “Particularly given that we have an abundance of nuclear and natural gas resources that would . . . Complete story »
Fishing industry pushes back as first commercial-grade offshore wind farm moves forward
The commercial fishing industry pushed back as the Vineyard Wind I project, the first commercial-grade offshore wind farm in the U.S., moves forward. The project is part of President Joe Biden’s goal of having 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, as well as Massachusetts’s goal of 5.6 gigawatts by 2030, said U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Barnstable, a town on Cape Cod. Haaland attended a groundbreaking for the project with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday. Two . . . Complete story »
Public weighs in on Mayflower Wind at federal hearing; would be state’s second offshore wind farm
Jobs, fishing, and concern for the ocean topped the short list of public comments Wednesday as the federal government launched its environmental review of Mayflower Wind. The proposed offshore wind farm would be the second in waters off Massachusetts, following Vineyard Wind, which received federal approval in May. About 55 people joined Wednesday’s online meeting held by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. It was the first of three public comment sessions for this stage of the review, known as . . . Complete story »
Falmouth takes step closer to dismantling wind turbines
The Town of Falmouth has hired a consultant to assist with the creation of bid documents necessary to take down the two wind turbines at the wastewater treatment plant site that have been inoperable for years. An agreement was executed with a consultant and several meetings have been held, including walking the turbine site and reviewing multiple details and items to document the bid specifications required, Town Manager Julian M. Suso told the select board during its meeting on Monday, . . . Complete story »
Top senator skeptical about scrapping offshore wind price cap
House Speaker Ron Mariano last week announced that the House will seek to eliminate the offshore wind price cap this session to encourage greater competition for the state’s clean power projects, but a key senator said he is not as sure that’s the way to go. Sen. Michael Barrett, who chairs the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee for the Senate, said he spoke with the two eligible developers that took a pass on the latest Massachusetts offshore wind solicitation about . . . Complete story »
New tool maps birds, fish in offshore wind areas
BOSTON – Location, location, location. While federal and state officials eagerly pursue a rapid and significant deployment of offshore wind turbines to generate cleaner power along the East Coast, scientists and advocates on Wednesday unveiled a new mapping tool designed to give developers, regulators and the public a better sense of the natural resources below the surface in the neighborhood of proposed wind projects. Last year, the U.S. offshore wind pipeline grew by 24% with more than 35,000 megawatts now in . . . Complete story »
2 offshore wind developers submit bids
The headlines detailing the emergence of a US offshore wind supply chain in its infancy are starting to pop up in all sorts of places – a $250 million monopile facility in New Jersey in partnership with wind farm developer Orsted and a wind tower manufacturing operation in Albany, New York, in conjunction with wind farm developer Equinor. But so far none of these facilities are being talked about or built in Massachusetts, which is rekindling a long-running debate in . . . Complete story »
6,241,502 reasons why the turbine is a bad idea
The proposed wind turbine deal is hideously bad for residents and business owners of Ipswich. But a few, to use the accepted social lexicon, “radical extremist” green ideologues seem determined to press ahead. Put aside the manifold issues attendant to wind power including health impacts on those living nearby, issues with birds and wildlife, total net carbon impact of manufacturing, transportation and disposal, etc. There are at least 6,241,502 other reasons why it’s undesirable. 1 – We’re in the current . . . Complete story »
