Falmouth Taxpayers Whacked Wind Turbine Arbitration Litigation Fees

Falmouth Wind Turbine Arbitration Fees 2800

On July 25, 2016, well over a year ago the Falmouth Select Board in executive session authorized the Town Manager, Town Council, and town’s insurer, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, MIIA, to participate in mediation with all parties to resolve all outstanding suits and claims.
At that time there were up to eleven active lawsuits in various Massachusetts courts.

To date, federal litigation has not been filed.

Falmouth Town Meeting on November 6, 2017, Article 2 will be asked for $2800.00 for wind turbine arbitration fees.

How many law firms and attorneys have been hired by the Town of Falmouth? How much of this is covered by the town’s insurer, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, MIIA? Was wind turbine liability insurance for the two megawatt wind turbines another example of failed due diligence or would insurers just not cover a gamble this close to residential homes.

Did the arbitrator take the position the wind turbine neighbors had to take their grievances of the chest pounding 110 decibels of noise described as torture from lack of sleep and unable to work in their yards during the day to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center?

In addition at Town Meeting November 6, 2017, Article 3, Town Meeting Members will be asked for $120,000.00 because Barnstable Superior Court Judge Cornelius Moriarty issued the order to shut down Falmouth's Wind 1 and Wind 2 on June 21, 2017. The judge agreed with the Falmouth Town Zoning Board the turbines are a nuisance.

The $120,000.00 is to pay the electric bill at the Wastewater treatment plant since the shutdown only a few months ago. One would assume the bill covers the months of July, August, September, and October or about $30,000.00 per month.

Sadly the Town of Falmouth Town Meeting Members would not be asked to pay the electric bill if the Falmouth Energy Committee had stayed with the plan to buy a single smaller 660-kilowatt wind turbine like that at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

The neighbors of the turbines were all taken to Hull, Massachusetts and shown a 660 Kilowatt wind turbine one third the size of the current megawatt turbines generating a chest pounding 110 decibels of noise.

Had the town followed its own Special Permit process the two monster wind turbines would never have been built and the smaller 660 Kilowatt wind turbine would have been adequate to pay the Wastewater Treatment Plant electric bill.

Greed is an inordinate or insatiable longing for unneeded excess, especially for excess wealth, status, power, or food. Greed is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs. For years Town Meeting Members were told don't worry the wind turbine lawsuits are a "Slam Dunk." It will be ten years before the taxpayers get a break now but everyone knew the risk.

Falmouth wind turbine manager and acting Town Manager Heather Harper in 2010 told Brewster officials they knew the risk and the town was a large community and could afford to take that risk;
“We took on a huge risk and I think we were successful but we’re a large community and I think we can take on that risk,” observed Falmouth assistant town manager Heather Harper.

The irony of the entire wind turbine health and financial fiasco is today the town could have afforded to build an oceanfront world class Senior Center with Tennis Courts but town officials chose to follow a state wind turbine agenda that has taken health, life and property rights in Massachusetts.