FALMOUTH WIND 1 TURBINE NEFARIOUS

Falmouth Wind Turbine Noise Problems Hidden

March 9, 2015

On June 17, 2009 Massachusetts DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan, DOER Commissioner Philip Giudice along with other state officials hosted a wind turbine listening session at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy a few miles from Falmouth.

At that session the legal actions taken previously by a citizens group in Mattapoisett against placing commercial wind turbines too close to residential homes in Mattapoisett were discussed. The legal actions and public education took place from 2005 to 2007. The discussion included a report from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center that made reference to two distinct types of “noise regulatory” and “human annoyance.” In addition ice throw, shadow flicker, property rights and setbacks were brought up. The Town of Mattapoisett dropped the wind turbine program.

DOER Commissioner Philip Giudice remarked at the end of the session the state now knew how not to site a commercial wind turbine. So you would have thought.

Now comes Falmouth after the state listening session on commercial wind turbines. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center dropped the reference to the two distinct types of noise in the Falmouth feasibility study. Mattapoisett residential home owners had asked too many questions about the two distinct types of “noise regulatory” and “human annoyance.”

The Falmouth Wind 1 turbine began operating on April 6, 2010 despite the noise and setback issues known to state and local officials.

An August 3, 2010 letter to the Town of Falmouth shows that Vestas Wind Company, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, local and state officials, wind installation contractors and consultants all knew Falmouth wind turbine number one would break state noise regulations.

The Town of Falmouth bylaws say the town needed a Special Permit to install the Falmouth wind one turbine. A study done for the Town of Falmouth paid for by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center said they needed a Special Permit. The Cape Cod model bylaws make reference to a need for a Special Permit.

Why didn’t the Town of Falmouth just get a Special Permit pretty simple ? Facts are it would never have happened under the law.

Folks, A Special Permit requires a noise study and set back study. Falmouth Wind 1 a 1650 kilowatt turbine would never have been installed.

The feasibility study previously done for Falmouth Wind 1 makes reference to 99 residential homes by street addresses that could be affected by wind turbine noise. The Falmouth Energy Committee and Select Board were all aware of the noise warning in the study.

It is obvious today that the reason for no Special Permit was obvious. From what was know at the time the town would have been unable to get a Special Permit because of noise and setback issues. A study required for noise and setbacks would have stopped the installation of the torturous turbine.

We do know that officials went forward building Falmouth Wind 1 without fear of prosecution because of former Governor Patrick and the state renewable energy agenda of 2000 megawatts of renewable energy by the year 2020. State and local officials made a simple decision to just ignore the law.

The result of ignoring state noise regulations and local bylaws has been the illegal taking of health and residential property rights.

Local and state officials through a political agenda made a choice to take the health and property rights of a minority without compensation for the good of the majority. State and local officials may have as well broken into these homes in the middle of the night and stolen their health and property rights.

It is time for the Massachusetts Supreme court to stop the insanity and noise described as torture and give back the residents the American Dream.

The right to work,own a home and be happy in that home.