Falmouth Officials Withheld Wind Turbine Documents From Negotiations

Massachusetts taxpayers paid $136,000.00 for these negotiations.

The purpose of the 26 Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) meetings at a cost of $136,000.00 was to engage in an open, transparent, and collaborative exploration of the range of options for the long-term future of the Town’s two Wind Turbines – Wind I and Wind II

The core interests at stake include health, safety, and well-being of the wind turbine impacted abutters.

THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH HID THE VESTAS NOISE WARNING LETTER FOR YEARS

ASK THE SELECT BOARD !

The Alternates and Liaisons from the Town of Falmouth to the Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Process were :

Selectman Doug Jones Liaison to Falmouth Board of Selectmen

Selectman Mary Pat Flynn Liaison to Falmouth Board of Selectmen

Selectman Doug Jones explains the wind turbine noise as vibration or sound pressure that gets reflected off the wind turbines

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700636/cape-cod-community-to-vote-on-status-of-wind-turbines

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Hidden Letter : Never Posted On Town of Falmouth Web Site - Hidden From Public Until After 2013 To Take Down Wind Turbines: 110 Decibels of Noise Equates To A Hard Rock Band Playing 24/7

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.

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)

Wind turbine sound - high quality audio