​Falmouth Wind Turbine II Raises 16 Billion Dollar Question

The AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA) of 2009 was to reinvigorate our economy with new projects that put Americans back to work and buy American products unless they were not made in the USA. Foreign-made products required a waiver from the federal EPA.

The purchase of the second foreign made wind turbine by the Town of Falmouth may indeed be the tip of an iceberg.

Governor Deval Patrick in 2009 made the prevention of fraud waste and abuse a top priority. State agencies were given directions on how to prevent fraud and abuse of the federal funds.

Ten years later Governor Charlie Baker, in February of 2019 when pressed by Congressman McClintock of California, over the Falmouth wind turbine fiasco admitted to Congress when asked about noise, shadow flicker and declined property values in Falmouth the "state screwed up." Gov,.Baker admitted the screw-up.

Cooperation from the Massachusetts Inspector General, Attorney General, and the State Auditor created a formidable safeguard to ensure the integrity and public confidence in the expenditure of ARRA funds and achieving accountability and transparency in the management of ARRA funds.

The total amount of money doled out by the federal government to states was 840 billion dollars.

Massachusetts share of the stimulus funds was 16 billion. That's "B" Billion.

The federal 2009 ARRA act offered three rivers of money to Massachusetts residents:

#1 Tax breaks around $ 4 billion

#2 Entitlement funds around $ 4 billion

#3 Project money near $ 8 billion given out in contracts, loans, and grants.

Much of the money including 5 million for the foreign-made Falmouth wind turbine was distributed through the state through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust from State Revolving Funds. The question has never been answered how ARRA funds were allocated to buy a foreign made wind turbine in Falmouth after a domestic company General Electric refused to place a single turbine because of safety concerns.

Former Governor Patrick made it clear that there would be a higher standard of transparency and accountability applied to the handling of stimulus funds. The Town of Falmouth was able to create a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety using ARRA funds. The town continues to hide documents, maps emails and a letter from August of 2010 that the foreign-made wind turbines installed are twice as loud as the General Electric domestic wind turbine company that refused to place a single wind turbine over safety issues.

The largest ARRA programs under environment agencies are the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds for financing investments in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection with the approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allocated $185 million of the ARRA Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) money to projects across the state.

The MassDEP brokered a 5 million Project Regulatory Agreement between the Town of Falmouth and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to purchase the Falmouth Wind II turbine. The MassDEP brokered the deal despite knowing the Falmouth wind turbine would break state noise regulations.The state was the original owner of the first identical Falmouth 110 decibel wind turbine. The state had all the specifications.

The Town of Falmouth held a June 2009 Special Town Meeting to receive and got 5 million in funds by the February 2010 deadline.

There was a total of 120 Massachusetts ARRA-subsidized SRF projects that reflected $825 million in total construction and engineering activity that supported economic recovery and public health in the Commonwealth, including 45 projects worth more than $220 million.

How many other projects got the same deal as the Town of Falmouth?

In Massachusetts commercial wind turbines is a bunco scheme of enormous consequence. The taxpayers who value intellectual honesty should not quietly be fleeced by such mendacity, even from their government officials.

The Massachusetts Inspector General, Attorney General, and the State Auditor need to look into the financing of the Town of Falmouth Wind Turbine # 2.

Do Your Job --

Many ask why Former Governor Deval Patrick decided not to run for President in 2020 ?

This could answer the question........