Falmouth Wind Turbine II Federal Loan/Grant Never Should Have Been Approved

General Electric a domestic wind turbine company refused to build a single 103-decibel wind turbine type 1.5-megawatt turbine in Falmouth because of ice throw and residential setbacks.

The town went forward and bought an even larger 110-decibel foreign made Vestas type 1.65 megawatt turbine even though GE refused to place a smaller wind turbine due to setbacks. The name of that turbine is Falmouth Wind I

In order for the Town of Falmouth to build its second wind turbine called Falmouth Wind II the town applied for a 5 plus million dollar loan or a grant from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 aka stimulus funds.

Town Meeting Members and local residents at the time prior to the purchasse of Falmouth Wind II believed the money from the federal government to buy the second turbine was a grant and today seem to still not understand it was called a grant/loan.

The question of was the 5 million a loan or a grant has never been answered. The loan/grant was provided by the the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust today is known as the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust.

The Town of Falmouth went forward buying its second turbine Falmouth Wind II. The larger turbine is a foreign made Vestas V -82 type 1.65 megawatt turbine.

In order to purchase a foreign made wind turbine, a federal EPA waiver had to be issued to use federal stimulus funds to the condition that no domestic wind turbine was available. Keep in mind General Electric a domestic wind turbine company had refused to build even a single wind turbine because of ice throw and residential setbacks because of their own internal safety regulations.

In the application for ARRA stimulus funds for Falmouth Wind II the town had to submit a waiver request to the Federal EPA in order to receive the 5 million dollar loan/grant.
In the waiver application, it referenced the Town of Falmouth Special Permit process. Anyone who reads the permit could easily determine the town was going to go through with the special permit process as noted below in the permit application.

The town never filed Special Permit 240-166 for its first turbine installed in 2010 a 110 decibels Vestas V-82 type 1.65 megawatt turbine.

The town had a KEMA Inc map from 2005 that showed the single GE domestic wind turbine generates up to 50 decibels on Black Smith Shop Road.

A. Knowing the domestic company refused to build a single turbine the town went forward building two larger foreign made Vestas V 82 turbines both generating 110 decibels each. Falmouth Wind I and Falmouth Wind II

B. The Town of Falmouth did not file for a special permit 240-166 as referenced in the federal EPA waiver to buy a foreign made wind turbine.

C. The Town of Falmouth rather than file a special permit hid a letter from the foreign made wind turbine company, Vestas , warning their turbine was 6 decibels louder (110 decibels ) than the General Electric domestic wind turbine company. Note 6 decibels is twice the sound level to the human ear.
State and local officials were aware the foreign made Vestas turbines generate 110 decibels turbines each and were too loud to be placed near residential homes

D. The Town of Falmouth and state officials ignored safety issues and warning from Vestas wind turbine company and distorted the intent of the EPA waiver
The warning letter: Turbines generate 110 decibels of noise

http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.Ve9oyhFVikp

Knowing these simple facts everyone involved in the installations deceived the taxpayers and town meeting members by simply omitting all negative noise information about the wind turbines.

The Town did file for a waiver to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 1—New England.

In that application that was approved by the US EPA the Town of Falmouth provided this information: “ The Town of Falmouth has adopted a local ordinance regulating large-scale wind turbines. Zoning Article XXXIV, Chapter 240, Section 240–166 requires a Special Permit for windmills with a minimum setback from property lines.”

THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH NEVER GOT A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR EITHER WIND TURBINE.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (SRFProgram), dispersed to the Town of Falmouth loans totaling $4,865,000 to acquire and install Wind 2. The original interest rate is 0%.

(SRFProgram) Clean Water State Revolving Fund Projects Receiving ARRA Subsidy

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 Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice.

Page 22129
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 27, 2010 / Notices

SUMMARY: The EPA is hereby granting a waiver of the Buy America requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2) [manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality] to the Town of Falmouth, Massachusetts for the purchase of a foreign manufactured wind turbine to be installed at its existing wastewater treatment facility site.
This is a project specific waiver and only applies to the use of the specified product for the ARRA project being proposed.

Page 22130
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 27, 2010 / Notices
half way down column # 1
“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 a minimum setback from property lines.”

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-04-27/pdf/2010-9751.pdf

Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) Twelfth Meeting – 9/12/12, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
A participant asked Julian Suso, Town Manager, about the status of the Wind 2 grant.

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