Falmouth Wind Turbine II Loan/Grant Financial Audit ARRA Fiasco

Falmouth Wind II has not produced any power for well over one year since June of 2017 shut down by the courts.

The Town of Falmouth has spent $14,000.00 as of October 2018, on a study using old noise data to move the wind turbine several hundred feet to sidestep the lawsuit. The old data resulted in a multitude of litigations. The town has received a document stating the turbine needs a 2923 foot setback for safety and health.

The town is aware that under federal law of the "Project Regulatory Agreement" and the loan associated with the funding of Falmouth Wind II have repercussions. Under federal law and PRA and loan agreement, the Town of Falmouth must maintain Wind II as an "energy efficiency" project, as described in the federal EPA guidelines, dated March 2, 2009 in order to benefit from the financial subsidy provided by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the MCWT State Revolving Fund.

Federal regulations at 40 CFR 31.30 (f) (3) states that a grantee, such as the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, will not approve any budget or project revision which is inconsistent with the purpose or terms and conditions of the Federal grant to the grantee.

The news media has gleefully written articles over the financial breaks given by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust on the finances of Falmouth Wind I the first turbine but have remained questionably quiet over the finances on Falmouth Wind II.

At the Falmouth Special Town Meeting on June 9, 2009, it appears many Town Meeting Members thought the financing for Falmouth Wind II was a grant they would never have to pay back.

On February 1, 2010, the town agreed to loan number CWSG-09-36: Falmouth wind turbine installation $ 4,865,000.00

Barnstable Superior Court Judge Cornelius Moriarty issued the order to shut down Falmouth's Wind 1 and Wind 2 on June 20, 2017.

The ARRA grant /loan: created "a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety related to the implementation or use of covered funds."

Prior to receiving the grant/loan to purchase Falmouth Wind II the Town of Falmouth had been contacted by Vestas the manufacturer of the turbine it generates a chest pounding 110 decibels of noise. General Electric a domestic wind turbine company refused to place a single wind turbine.

The Town of Falmouth has hidden the August 2010 warning of 110 decibels of noise and remains hidden:

August 3, 2010--WasteWater Superintendent, Town of Falmouth Public Works--59 Town Hall Square, Falmouth, MA 02540

RE: Falmouth WWTF Wind Energy Facility II "Wind II", Falmouth, MAContract No. #3297

"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."

Falmouth agreed at a cost of $140,000.00 in 2012 to enter honest open negotiations in the CBI-WTOP ( Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process) negotiations with wind turbine victims to resolve all noise issues.

The negotiations where far from honest: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds should never have been used to purchase a foreign made Vestas V-82 type 1.65 megawatt wind turbine generating 110 decibels of noise after General Electric a domestic wind turbine company refused to place a single wind turbine over residential setbacks and ice throw.

In the following video, Falmouth Select Board members who represented the board sat silently by in the room while individuals argued over noise issues. The representatives are sitting in the background during the argument over noise.

During this meeting in January of 2013 the town hid and is still hiding the 110-decibel noise warning letter and documents including emails, they knew the turbines generate 110 decibels each. January 15, 2013- Consensus Building Institute: Falmouth Wind Turbine Options Analysis Process (WTOP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tr_h8yuWqo&feature=youtu.be