Falmouth Wind Turbine Health Impact Statement

Falmouth Wind Turbine Health Impact Statement

Wind Turbine Options Analysis Process

Final Report to the Falmouth Board of Selectmen Falmouth, MA

FINAL REPORT January 18, 2013
Page 11

Vestas in the search for mechanical solutions led only to an understanding that Vestas had no commercially available modifications to reduce turbine noise.

Page 45
Health Impacted Neighbors Statement

Health Impacted Neighbors Statement The neighbors of Wind 1 and Wind 2 were shocked during the first days of operation to discover that the reality of living near the 1.65 Megawatt turbines was very different from what the town was told to expect. Two years later the Board of Selectmen initiated the WTOP “in response to the noise, safety and health concerns that were raised by members of the community.”1 CBI summarized the problem in the following way, “neighbors living near the turbines report significant impacts to their health, well-being, and quality of life. Most of the affected neighbors describe these impacts as “profound,” impairing their health, sleep, and enjoyment of their homes and properties.” 2

Early in the process, the WTOP acknowledged the likely ineffectiveness of the current Mass DEP Noise Policy to evaluate and mitigate wind turbine noise. Increasing the hours of operation to meet a financial ‘break-even’ objective or to meet a literal interpretation of the DEP guidelines would be a significant blow to the health and welfare of the neighbors. There is no moral basis for deciding to expand the nighttime hours of operation. Four or five hours of uninterrupted sleep are certainly not enough to maintain good health. The Acentech noise model clearly indicated that Wind 1 and 2 operating together will likely exceed DEP guidelines and the Falmouth Windmill bylaw at multiple locations beyond 12AM to 4AM (sec. 4.2.3.).

The WTOP fully explored the options available and found no feasible way to resolve the negative impacts on the neighbor’s health, well-being and property values in any meaningful way other than by removing the people (buying homes) or removing the turbines. The cost of removing the turbines and replacing them with a photovoltaic array is estimated to be $3.9 million. Acentech was tasked with estimating the number of properties which would need to be purchased in order to run the turbines with no curtailment. They did not provide that estimate. When asked to consider how many properties would require testing to confirm the exceedences indicated by the Acentech noise model, Tony Rogers replied to Stacie Smith; “DNV KEMA suggests that the number of houses to be considered for mitigation is between 20 and 40…” Based on the average price of homes in the area, the cost to purchase them would be in the range of $8 -16 million.

Both options require substantial sums to implement. The neighbors believe that this is the fundamental decision faced by the Board of Selectmen. Raise the money required to decommission the turbines and resolve the problem, or raise a larger sum of capital to purchase homes. We do not see the option of buying homes to run the turbines uncurtailed as a viable solution. We prefer to remain in our homes and see being forced to abandon them as a tremendous loss which will only prolong the suffering of neighbors and the degradation of our community as a whole

No one voted for a renewable energy project that would cause this kind of damage to the neighbors and the community. We recommend the Town pursue a solar energy project to achieve the original climate action goals, regain the trust and faith of the community, and offset the costs of this option with support from the state. The state, and particularly the MassCEC (formerly MTC), promoted this project. It is time they were asked to take responsibility for their recommendations. Senate President Theresa Murray, our State Representatives David Vieira and Timothy Madden, and recently Governor Duval Patrick, have all expressed a willingness to help Falmouth solve this daunting problem.

It’s time to ask them to provide that help. Put the health and well-being of your neighbors first and ask for the financial help to remove these poorly sited turbines. The Board of Selectmen needs to put an end to the suffering, the testing, and the litigation. It’s time we put this disaster in the past and move the entire community forward in a positive direction.

http://www.falmouthmass.us/energy/wtopreport.pdf

Note # The Consensus Building Institute was hired for over $ 300,000.00 to negotiate a resolution to the wind turbine process.

The purpose of the Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) was to video tape all the meetings and show them on Falmouth Cable TV ,FCTV.

To date the September 12, 2012 video tape remains “ lost “ never shown to the public.

The general public has never been told or given an explanation why the video was never produced on Falmouth FCTV

http://www.cbuilding.org/sites/cbi.drupalconnect.com/files/WTOP_9-12-12_...

http://www.cbuilding.org/sites/cbi.drupalconnect.com/files/WTOP_9-12-12_...