Falmouth Wind Turbine Spending Spree - Ripley's Believe It or Not

Ripley's Believe It or Not deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. The two Falmouth wind turbines with all the mediators, consultants, attorneys, engineers, judges, litigation fees by the neighbors of the wind turbines easily qualify the Falmouth wind turbines as the most expensive ever built on the planet.

Falmouth taxpayers paid for it. Maybe it's time to wake up? The town had up to eleven ongoing lawsuits and there are still more waiting in the wings. How many years ago were Town Meeting Members told the wind turbine lawsuit was a "slam dunk?'

The Massachusetts Superior Court has agreed with the Falmouth Zoning Board both Falmouth Wind I and Wind II are a nuisance and shut them down.

The Falmouth Select Board recently after seven years voted to hire a consultant or firm to look into taking down Falmouth Wind I. The board is also looking into moving Falmouth Wind II which abutters promised more litigation.

In 2014 the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center provided Falmouth with an additional 1.8 million dollars in part to help pay wind turbine litigation.Falmouth Town Meeting has been approving up to $300.000 every six months for litigation.

On July 25, 2016 former Board of Selectmen Chairman Doug Jones announced the board had voted to authorize Town Manager Julian Suso, Town Council Frank Duffy., and the town's insurer, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association,MIIA, to participate in mediation with all parties in pending wind turbine litigation to resolve all outstanding suits and claims. The town hired a mediator but forgot to include the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in the mediation. Another waste of money.

There is much the town has never told the public:

Falmouth Select Board 2018 –
Susan L. Moran, Chairman, Megan English Braga, Vice Chairman, Doug Jones, Samuel H. Patterson, Douglas C. Brown

Falmouth Massachusetts Wind Energy — Time Line

Time Line of Wind Turbine Options Analysis Process January 2013 & History of installations

http://www.cbuilding.org/sites...

One year of negotiations at a cost of $136,000.00. The purpose of the Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) is to engage in an open, transparent, and collaborative exploration of the range of options for the long-term future of the Town’s two Wind Turbines – Wind I and Wind II–

The Town of Falmouth never provided the Vestas 110 decibel letter during one year of negotiations

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TOWN OF FALMOUTH COMMUNITY WIND PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY November 2005

General Electric (1.5 103.5 decibels used in map) -Map never took into consideration 110 decibel Vestas turbines

Map : Page 51 of 62 – Estimated Maximum Noise Impact of a 1.5 MW turbine (dB(A))18 (-Not a Vestas 110 decibel wind turbine)

KEMA Inc –Map showing noise readings near 50 decibels on Blacksmith Shop Road — (Vestas later near 60)

http://www.falmouthmass.us/Doc...

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Falmouth EPA waiver to buy a foreign Falmouth Wind II turbine -No Special Permit Applied for either turbines

General Electric a domestic company refused to build a single 103.5-decibel wind turbine – Town went forward building two foreign-made Vestas 110 decibel turbines on a decibels scale each Vestas was twice as loud as the GE turbine

EPA Waiver :Page 22130Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 27, 2010 / Noticeshalf 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 minimum setback from property lines.”
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-04-27/pdf/2010-9751.pdf

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Falmouth Health Department requests State assessment of turbine health impacts : 2012
Falmouth Board of Health – June 11, 2012
Ms. Suzanne CondonAssociate CommissionerMassachusetts Department of Public Health250 Washington Street, 7th FloorBoston, MA 02108
Dear Ms. Condon,

Link to BOH letter and pdf files : http://www.windaction.org/posts/34304-falmouth-health-department-requests-state-assessment-of-turbine-health-impacts#.WMaYwjvae00

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Vestas 110 decibel noise warning prior to installation of Falmouth Wind II.

August 3, 2010Mr. Gerald PotamisWasteWater Superintendent 110 decibel Vestas warnimg 110 decibels

This letter hidden from Wind Turbine Options Analysis Process 2012 remains hidden today

http://www.windaction.org/post...

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April 2013 MassCEC Memo Admitting Acoustic Noise Mistakes prior to installations of wind turbines

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center just prior to 2013 Falmouth election to take down wind turbines admits “mistakes” in pre-wind turbines installations

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/03/details-on-masscecs-april-2-memo-on-falmouth-turbines/
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April 2,2013 — Project Regulatory Agreement (“PRA”)– Town knew it was a power production loan that put loan interest payments before health
massachusetts water pollution abatement trust – Town of Falmouth
www.falmouthmass.us/DocumentCenter/View/132
Apr 2, 2013 – project at the Town’s wastewater treatment facility (“Wind II”) that was … conditions of the Project Regulatory Agreement (“PRA”)