Falmouth Wind Turbines Another Shoe Ready To Drop

Falmouth, Massachusetts has three Vestas V-82 type 1.65 megawatt wind turbines. One owned by a private company built in Falmouth Technology Park in 2010. Two town-owned turbines built in 2010 and 2012.

In February of 2018, the Cape Cod Times reported the private wind turbine had been shut down for about seven weeks. The journalist reported according to the owner that the turbine underwent normal maintenance replacing a bearing which required to take off the blades.

The news media reported the who, what, when, where, and why but left off one tiny tidbit how much? It's obvious the news media doesn't want Falmouth taxpayers to know what happens when a bearing in a wind turbine gearbox goes bad. If it cost one dollar you would read about it but one million they call that reporting by omission.

FYI: Have you ever wondered why wind turbines catch on fire? The wind industry always does an investigation but they never seem to figure out the bearings overheating and failing in the gearbox cause the fire. It's either that or lightning.

Barnstable Superior Court Judge Cornelius Moriarty issued the order to shut down Falmouth's Wind 1 and Wind 2 on June 20, 2017. The judge denied the appeal brought by Falmouth selectmen against the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals had found the turbines to be a "nuisance." On July 10, 2017, Susan Moran, the chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, said: "It's time to put the matter behind us and move forward."

The Town of Falmouth has never been upfront over any of the wind turbine issues over the eight years of litigation but neither has the news media. Falmouth Town Meeting Members wasted and approved up to $300,000.00 every six months for litigation against the neighbors of the wind turbines.

So what besides the litigation fees over eight years made the Select Board decide not to appeal the July 20, 2017 court decision to shut the wind turbines.

# 1-- The town had been warned by email prior to the construction of the wind turbines by Vestas of America that the turbines generate 110 decibels of noise and then in a written letter in August of 2010. A KEMA Inc map designed for the town in 2005 shows the turbines raise decibel levels to near 60 decibels in nearby homes.

# 2-- These wind turbines have bearing problems which require the replacement of the gearbox. The cost of a special crane for three days is $150,000.00 and $50,000.00 per day for each additional day. The new gearbox runs about $650,000.00 a rebuilt one about half the cost and there is no guarantee the gearbox lasts more than 3 years. The blades need to be inspected when they come down being repaired or replaced at one million dollars each.

# 3-- The replacement of gearboxes and blades in older wind turbines is considered normal maintenance.

The six to eight-years-old wind turbines go back to court on October 2, 2018.

"Friends of Falmouth Wind," say removing the wind turbines would cost up to 15 million dollars but failed to include the litigation fees of the town and the neighbors. The cost of ligation, meetings and travel expenses bring it closer to over 20 million and still spending on litigation goes on.

In 2012 the Falmouth Board of Health requested Mass Dept of Health immediately initiate a health assessment of the impacts of the operation of wind turbines.

Massachusetts has twenty-one communities with thousands of noise complaints.

The Town of Falmouth has not filed a brief for the October 2, 2018 trial which means the town is not going to defend the turbines.

The Falmouth Planning Board studies and makes recommendations on the long-term growth of the Town.In accordance with the Town of Falmouth Home Rule Charter, the Falmouth Board of Selectmen hereby presents its five-year strategic plan for the Town of Falmouth. During its annual Strategic Planning retreat on June 13, 2017 the Board reviewed strategic priorities for Fiscal Years 2018-2022.

What is the strategic plan for the maintenance of the wind turbines? Who would buy a six to eight-year-old Vestas wind turbine?

Falmouth Town Manager Julian Suso in January of 2018: “The wind turbines represent a very significant capital investment by Falmouth taxpayers and retain considerable residual value, which the town must responsibly analyze and manage.”

Folks it is time to stop the insanity.

The aftermath of Arlington Wind Turbine Fire