Falmouth Town Meeting -Wind Turbines Executive Session

Massachusetts

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Falmouth Select Board To Meet in Executive Session At Falmouth High School 11/14/2016 To Discuss Funfar Trial – Wind Turbine

http://www.falmouthmass.us/agenda.php?depkey=selectmen&number=8341

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The Town of Falmouth is holding its Annual Town Meeting on Monday November 14, 2016 at 7:00 PM Falmouth High School Auditorium

The Falmouth Wind Turbines Land Court Case is Thursday November 17, 2016 at 10 AM expert disclosures are due.

The Town of Falmouth spends up to $300,000.00 every six months on litigation most of which is on wind turbine litigation. Falmouth town counsel Frank K. Duffy Jr. is in talks with multiple attorneys regarding the two Falmouth wind turbines, following a selectmen’s decision to pursue mediation in July of 2016.

The Town of Falmouth has made the decision to call its insurance company, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, to make a claim.

Every Town Meeting starts with this article : "Article 1 : To hear reports from Committees and Town Officers and act thereon"

The Town of Falmouth maintains a section of its web site called Falmouth Wind Information which for years continues to omit information.

August 3, 2010, Mr. Gerald Potamis the former Waste Water Superintendent received a letter from the manufacturer of the proposed Falmouth wind turbines that they were dangerously too loud. (110 decibels)

They were at least double the noise of GE wind turbines used in noise tests.

The town owned wind turbines generate 110 decibels of noise.

It's incumbent of Town Meeting Members to ask why the following letter was hidden from Town Meeting Article 1.

The Falmouth Select Board owes it to the public to tell why the letter below has never been posted in the town wind information web site and why after six years the letter remains "secret" :

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The letter warning the town in 2010 :

In the following letter Vestas wind company reiterates in writing that the Town of Falmouth had been previously warned the turbine generates up to 110 decibels
August 3, 2010
Mr. Gerald Potamis
WasteWater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth Public Works
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540

RE: Falmouth WWTF Wind Energy Facility II “Wind II”, Falmouth, MA
Contract No. #3297Dear 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)
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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)