Massachusetts Officials Frustrated By Wind Turbine Court Havoc They Created

In November of 2013 Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Muse issued a preliminary injunction against the Falmouth wind turbines.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center formerly the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was instrumental in installing two 1.65 megawatt Vestas V-82 commercial wind turbines generating 110 decibels of noise twice the noise levels of turbines used in noise studies.

The MassCEC in April of 2013 in a memo prior to the preliminary injunctution to the Town of Falmouth admitted it made mistakes in the noise tests -(note 1 bottom)

Massachusetts has installed commercial wind turbines in twenty one communities creating a second class group of citizens under the wind turbine blades. The main complaint of noise is described as torture from lack of sleep or unable to work on their property while the turbines spin. The next problem is shadow flicker. As the sun passes through the blades it creates a strobe affect into the windows of the homes.

The up to 200 Falmouth residents and likewise other communities around the turbines complain of headaches, loss of balance, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, memory loss, unable to focus, unable to concentrate.

The Court found that the defendants in the case face “a substantial risk (that they) will suffer irreparable physical and psychological harm if the injunction is not granted.”.

Falmouth’s two turbines must shut down from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s
The Court rejected the town’s claim that reducing the turbines in hours would cause financial harm.

The judge also ruled the source of the Town’s eventual payments to satisfy its financial obligations are irrelevant and do not warrant close analysis by the court.

In March of 2014 after the court ordered shut down the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center voted to redo the Falmouth Renewable Energy Contract and supply the town with 1.8 million dollars to help pay litigation fees from up to eleven ongoing lawsuits over wind turbine noise.
During that vote Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board of Director Martin Aikens commented that a few people (defendants) in the Falmouth (wind turbine lawsuit) were wreaking havoc and was frustrated that they were taking it all away.

(despite the court ruling and health issues ? )

The exact quote page 3 : "Mr. Aikens indicated that this is what you get when a few people wreak havoc and that he is very frustrated that it only takes a small percentage to take it all away. "

Also Scott Jordan who was executive director of the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust, asked if the renegotiation of the REC agreement was being coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The Falmouth Wind II turbine loan/grant is subject to provisions of ARRA and applicable federal regulations through the trust.

The exact quote page 3 : "Mr.Jordan asked if this is coordinated with what the DEP is doing in Falmouth."

PDF :Minutes - Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

files.masscec.com/about-masscec/bod/MassCECBODMinutesMarch2014.pdf

Mar 26, 2014 - Directors: Secretary Richard Sullivan (EEA & MassCEC Chairman) ... Board of Directors was held on March 26, 2014 at 63 Franklin Street, Boston, MA

MINUTES CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER BOARD MEETING March 26, 2014

March 26, 2014 - Agenda

Page 3 of 9

IV. Authorization to Award Funding to Town of Falmouth to Mitigate Financial Impacts of Reduced Impacts of reduced Wind Project Operations

Bottom paragraph: "Mr. Aikens indicated that this is what you get when a few people wreak havoc and that he is very frustrated that it only takes a small percentage to take it all away. Mr.Jordan asked if this is coordinated with what the DEP is doing in Falmouth."

MassCEC Board of Directors

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 12 directors. Secretary Matthew Beaton, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, serves as Chair, and MassCEC CEO Stephen Pike implements board policies. The MassCEC Board of Directors also includes audit, compensation and investment subcommittees.

Martin E. Aikens, Business Agent, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103

http://www.masscec.com/board-directors-agendas-and-minutes

click above for March 26, 2014 minutes

Past Meetings: Agendas and Minutes

• Secretary Matthew Beaton, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
• Martin Aikens, Business Agent, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103
• Secretary Jay Ash, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• President Anthony Benoit, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
• President John B. Cook, Springfield Technical Community College
• Tom Galvin, Director, RESHydro
• Bob Haber, Chief Investment Officer, Proficio Capital Partners
• Commissioner Judith Judson, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
• Secretary Kristen Lepore, Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance
• President Marty Meehan, University of Massachusetts
• Deborah Mutschler, Executive Director, Massachusetts Workforce Alliance
• Secretary Ron Walker, Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
• Falmouth taxpayers are paying up to $300,000.00 every six months for litigation - only one turbine operates 12 hours a day -There are two more upcoming trials April 18, 2017 and May 5, 2017

Note # 1 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO FALMOUTH REC AGREEMENTStaff Memorandum for April 2, 2013 Meeting ofMassCEC Board of Directors (MassCEC Admits Noise Mistakes Falmouth Wind Turbines)

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