Falmouth Wind Document 10 Years Later Still Hidden From Public

The ambitious Massachusetts commercial wind turbine industry has had its legal trials ending in a disaster.

Falmouth Massachusetts was a major headache for politicians omitting documents and if it could go wrong, it went wrong.

Falmouth in 2005 had a study done by KEMA Inc which showed the noise of a single General Electric megawatt wind turbine would affect 99 residential homes and named the homes by street addresses. General Electric refused to place one wind turbine due to residential setbacks.

In 2010 and 2012 the Town of Falmouth ignored the 2005 KEMA Inc study which warned of wind turbine noise at 99 residential homes and failed to file Special Permits to build the two Vestas V-82 type turbines that each of which was twice as loud as the GE turbine used in the study.

A wind turbine memo in April 2, 2013, was written by Massachusetts Clean Energy Staff all of whom were from formerly of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The memo was approved by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board of Directors and admits to acoustic noise mistakes in wind studies prior to the installations of the Falmouth wind turbines.

The memo states the original MTC -commissioned feasibility study for Falmouth under-estimated the likely acoustic impact of the wind turbines.

At that time in 2013 the Town of Falmouth was having an election to take down the turbines and a Vestas noise warning letter was released by the town. The MassCEC memo was to cover their rear ends as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection found the turbines broke state noise regulations.

So that's pretty good you can take the health and property rights of hundreds of residential homeowners and just write a memo?

The MTC, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was the original owners of two Vestas V82 wind turbines that changed its name to the MassCEC, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center after they sold the two Vestas V82 wind turbines to Falmouth.

Why did the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board of Directors and admit to the "mistake? " Because they got caught!

The Town of Falmouth released the following letter through the FOIA, Freedom of Information Act showing each Vestas wind turbine was twice as loud as the General Electric wind turbine used in the 2005 KEMA Inc study.

The courts, local and state officials have this letter but understandably the Town of Falmouth has never posted it on its website or told Town Meeting Members about the Vestas noise warning letter prior to the construction of the turbines.

Freedom of Information Act Release:

Vestas raises concerns about turbine noise (Letter):
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.

August 3, 2010
Mr.
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. #3297
Dear ,

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.