Neighbor News
Falmouth Wind II Noise Study "Mistakes" and 6 Million Dollars
They Always Knew Before Any One Turbine Went Up. They Were All Out Of Noise Compliance. Willfully, Negligently Broke Noise Regulations
Falmouth Wind II Noise Study “Mistakes” and 6 Million Dollars
First: The “mistakes” in Falmouth Wind Turbine II wind studies
The KEMA 2005 Site Feasibility Study included this noise map shown above. Note the sound levels at nearby residential lot lines are 42 dBA or higher, the predicted sound level for a 1.5MW turbine (smaller than the Vestas V82-1.65MW installed).
There was a professional omission by the KEMA report that is critical for evaluating compliance with state law and potential for complaints.
KEMA (funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, later the MassCEC, both charged with promoting wind power) didn’t evaluate the increase over background - which would be required for the reader to understand if the project would comply with state noise law.
Background L90 levels in that part of Massachusetts have been measured at 27-29 dBA (five studies including two by the MassDEP).
The KEMA maps would have clearly indicated the turbine would exceed state noise limits and generate complaints. Without the requisite comparison to background, the reader was left clueless.
From the KEMA study: “The following figures estimate the maximum noise impact (broadband noise) for a GE 1.5 MW (65 meters (213 feet) hub height) and a GE 2.5 MW turbine (84 meter (278 feet) hub height). ... In both cases, the estimated maximum impact is about 42 to 44 dB (A) at the property line of residences to the west or the south.”
Details on April 2, 2013 memo from MassCEC to Town of Falmouth - “study did not include a detailed acoustic analysis based upon sampling of ambient acoustic conditions”
https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/03/details-on-masscecs-april-2-memo-on-falmouth-turbines/
Second: The 6 Million dollars in stimulus funds for Falmouth Wind II was it a loan or a grant ?
SHOULD THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH BEEN GIVEN OR LOANED 6 MILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL ARRA FUNDS BASED ON WHAT IS BEING FOUND OUT NOW ?
General Electric a domestic wind turbine company refused to place a single GE 1.5 megawatt wind turbine in Falmouth because of setbacks.
Falmouth got a grant or a loan from the federal government for 6 million dolllars and obtained a waiver to buy a second foreign made Vestas V-82 commercial wind turbine both larger than the General Electric wind turbine.
The citizens of Falmouth need to be made aware of who filed the request for a project waiver to use 6 million dollars in ARRA stimulus funds. According to the federal application the Falmouth Town Planning Department determined that a wind turbine is a use allowed as a matter of right in a Public Use Zoning district pursuant to Section 240-30. How did they make that determination ?
The Massachusetts courts have ruled Falmouth should have used Special Permit process 240-166
How did the planning department make the determination for Falmouth Wind II
Where was the Falmouth Select Board & Falmouth Town Manager ?
The Building department issues permits.
The federal permit information is next : Did The Town of Falmouth actually qualify for ARRA funds ?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
FRL–9142–5
Notice of a Regional Project Waiver of Section 1605 (Buy American) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to the Town of Falmouth, MA
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-04-27/html/2010-9751.htm
Falmouth Wind II ARRA stimulus fund wavier
“Based on information provided to the EPA, the Town of Falmouth has taken the necessary steps to obtain all required local, state, and
federal approvals to move forward with the proposed project. The Town of Falmouth has adopted a local ordinance regulating large scale wind turbines. According to the submittal, Zoning Article XXXIV, Chapter 240, Section 240-166 requires a Special Permit for windmills with minimum setback from property lines.”
“The Town Planning Department has determined that a wind turbine is a use allowed as a matter of right in a Public Use Zoning
district pursuant to Section 240-30, Permitted Community Service Uses, of the Zoning Bylaw.”
