Falmouth: No Wind Turbine Questions Allowed Until Further Notice

The Select Board members are elected by the voters of Falmouth;

Chairman, Susan L. Moran -- Vice Chairman, Megan English Braga -- Doug Jones -- Samuel H. Patterson-- Douglas C. Brown. The Select Board meets again tonight at 6:30 PM in Executive Session.

The Falmouth Select Board in what appears to be a parliamentary procedure since both wind turbines have been shut down are not allowing the public in open session to ask any wind turbine questions of the board.

Each and every week the board places " Discuss resolution of all turbine litigation " as number one on the agenda. This disallows any wind turbine questions when it comes to open session where the public is given time to ask questions.

In June of 2017 the Massachusetts Superior Court agreed with the Falmouth Zoning Board that the Falmouth wind turbines are a nuisance and shut them down.

The question is why does the town continue to hide the August year 2010 Vestas 110 decibel noise warning that shows the manufacturer of the wind turbines previously warned the town about the noise dangers ?

The letter has been released through FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, requests but the public remains oblivious that the town has known for more than eight years (that is years) the wind turbines generate a chest pounding 110 decibels of noise that create up to 60 decibels of noise at homes on Blacksmith Shop Road. Up to 200 residential homes are in the wind zone.

The letter :

AUG 3 2010
Mr. Gerald Potamis WasteWater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth Public Works
59 Town Hall SquareFalmouth, MA 02540

RE: Falmouth WWTF Wind Energy Facility II "Wind II", Falmouth, MA Contract No. #3297

Dear Mr. Potamis,

Due to the sound concerns regarding the first wind turbine installed at the wastewater treatment facility, the manufacturer of the turbines, Vestas, is keen for the Town of Falmouth to understand the possible noise and other risks associated with the installation of the second wind turbine.

The Town has previously been provided with the Octave Band Data / Sound performance for the V82 turbine. This shows that the turbine normally operates at 103.2dB but the manufacturer has also stated that it may produce up to 110dB under certain circumstances. These measurements are based on IEC standards for sound measurement which is calculated at a height of 10m above of the base of the turbine.

We understand that a sound study is being performed to determine what, if any, Impacts the second turbine will have to the nearest residences. Please be advised that should noise concerns arise with this turbine, the only option to mitigate normal operating sound from the V82 is to shut down the machine at certain wind speeds and directions. Naturally this would detrimentally affect power production.

The manufacturer also needs confirmation that the Town of Falmouth understands they are fully responsible for the site selection of the turbine and bear all responsibilities to address any mitigation needs of the neighbors.

Finally, the manufacturer has raised the possibility of ice throw concerns. Since Route 28 is relatively close to the turbine, precautions should be taken in weather that may cause icing.
To date on this project we have been unable to move forward with signing the contract with Vestas.

The inability to release the turbine for shipment to the project site has caused significant [SIC] delays in our project schedule. In order to move forward the manufacturer requires your understanding and acknowledgement of these risks.

We kindly request for this acknowledgement to be sent to us by August 4, 2010, as we have scheduled a coordination meeting with Vestas to discuss the project schedule and steps forward for completion of the project.

Please sign in the space provided below to indicate your understanding and acknowledgement of this letter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely,
(Bruce Mabbott's signature) _______________________Bruce Mabbott
Gerald Potamis
Project Manager Town of Falmouth
CC: Sumul Shah, Lumus Construction, Inc. (Town of Falmouth's Wind-1 and Wind-2 Construction contractor)
Stephen Wiehe, Weston & Sampson (Town of Falmouth's contract engineers)
Brian Hopkins, Vestas
(Wind-1, Wind-2's turbine manufacturer, and also Webb/NOTUS turbine)

Year 2005 KEMA Inc . Map Shows Falmouth Wind Turbine Number I Almost 60 Decibels on Blacksmith Shop Road. There is no sound study for Falmouth Wind II or both turbines operating together.