Falmouth Wind Turbine Lawsuits and RICO statute

The Town of Falmouth just prior to May of 2013 took a vote to remove the Falmouth wind turbines.

Here is what the town never told anyone :

Falmouth Town officials at that time hid an August 2010 - 110 decibel noise warning letter and an April 2013 memo from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center admitting acoustic noise mistakes that the turbines break state Department of Environmental Protection noise laws.

The Falmouth Energy Committee had a KEMA Inc Map from 2005 that showed one turbine installed at the Waste Water Treatment Plant would exceed 40 decibels on Black Smith Shop Road

Notes from a PowerPoint presentation done by Megan Amsler show: 'A lot of the permitting and planning was conducted by municipal staff or Energy Committee members, which helped to keep “soft costs” down. '

Law suits filed in the past also seeks treble damages, a mandatory provision in RICO cases that would triple the amount of money awarded to the plaintiffs should a judge agree with their suit.

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The chairman of Falmouth's energy committee, Megan Amsler, in 2013 facing the removal of the town wind turbines begged the state's energy secretary Richard Sullivan not to help remove the wind turbines. Megan signed the letter as Falmouth Energy Committee Chair and as a member to Friends of Falmouth Wind.

Apparently Richard Sullivan was aware of Friends of Falmouth Wind and who they are.

Richard Koehler, who served on Falmouth's energy committee, at that time said he agreed with Amsler, and believes the state should not help Falmouth fund the removal of the turbines.

These Falmouth residents are appointed by the Falmouth Select Board.

A review of the March 26, 2013 Falmouth Energy Committee minutes shows :

7. "Megan explained the letter was sent by her as a private citizen, not as the chair of the energy committee. It was incorrectly reported in the local press."
http://www.falmouthmass.us/meeting.php?depkey=energy&number=5503

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Now another hidden document rises to the sunlight : The Megan Amsler -Friends of Falmouth Wind Letter

In a Freedom of Information Act Request to the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs it shows: Megan Amsler Chair, Falmouth Energy Committee and a member of Friends of Falmouth Wind did in fact sign the letter.

The local press was correct.

Megan Amsler Chair, Falmouth Energy Committee is appointed by the Falmouth Select Board and remains there today. Appointed officials reflect the views of the Select Board.

Megan Amsler 2013 quote : "So, please do not provide funding to Falmouth to remove the turbines at the wastewater treatment facility"

Selectmen Chairman Douglas H. Jones and the Falmouth Select Board have never taken action against Megan Amsler who is appointed by the board. Megan Amsler also signed the letter to Richard Sullivan as a member of Friends of Falmouth Wind.

The current new Falmouth Select Board has met multiple times in Executive session over the wind turbine lawsuits.

Friends of Falmouth Wind today look to be a secret group of people who helped hide negative wind turbine documents from the public. RICO Act is applicable to corrupt state and local government within a 10-year period who can be charged with racketeering.

The judge in these lawsuits should also be made aware of the noise warnings prior to the installations of these turbines also found through the Freedom of Information Act. In addition the omission of memos, wind study documents, letters and maps not posted on the Falmouth town web site

Megan Amsler Letter :

Megan Amsler March 2013 Freedom of Information Act Request EOEEA

Richard K. Sullivan Jr.
Secretary,
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street,
Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
March 4th, 2013

Dear Secretary Sullivan,

I am writing to you to express my support for the Falmouth Wind Turbine project to remain intact. I am sure that your office, along with the Governor's office, and the Mass CEC, has been hearing from the opponents of wind who are demanding that the project be removed.

I wanted to be sure you know that there is a silent majority out in Falmouth that does support the project, along with the Town's work to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the residents in Falmouth support the project, but are not willing to speak out in favor of the wind turbines, as it is construed as being against the neighbors; a personal affront. Our decision-makers have been unfairly bullied and harassed for too long over this.

I know that the Town of Falmouth has requested assistance from the State to help resolve the turbine issue. After sitting on the CBI Wind Turbine Options panel for 24 or so meetings,(generously funded by the State) as well as being the chair of the Falmouth Energy Committee since its establishment in 2002, lam very familiar the options for alleviating the neighbors' issues and their lack of willingness to compromise for a resolution. Taking the turbines down is not a viable option for the Town.

The wind turbines are good for the Town in so many ways. It provides clean electricity to the wastewater treatment facility, helps to stabilize the Town's electricity costs, provides a revenue stream and reduces
greenhouse gas emissions, which is something that the Falmouth Selectmen pledged to do in 2008. We even chose municipal ownership to keep more of the tangible benefits of the project in our local economy.

The fact that the Commonwealth offered Falmouth so much support and assistance during the long, 9-year, development process for the project is a testament to the unyielding belief that clean energy is needed for our future. This project went before Town Meeting seven different times and was never voted down. It is a good project for Falmouth.

I am ashamed that the Town has even deigned to ask the State for aid in removing the turbines because they bother 19 people within 1/3 of a mile. Please do not set a precedent by helping our community remove them. The implications for the entire global wind industry would be dire.

Falmouth needs more ciean energy, not less! So, please do not provide funding to Falmouth to remove the turbines at the wastewater treatment facility. We need those turbines to remain in place and run as they were intended.

Be well.

Sincerely,

Megan Amsler
Chair, Falmouth Energy Committee
Friends of Falmouth Wind
Secretary, Small Wind Certification Council
Adjunct Faculty, Cape Cod Community College, Renewable Energy Sources
Executive Director, Cape & Islands Self-Reliance

RELEASED FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

Received
MAR 07 2013
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS