Falmouth Wind Turbines Another Smoking Gun Document

HOW MANY MORE DOCUMENTS REMAIN HIDDEN ?

The April 19, 2005 TOWN OF FALMOUTH COMMUNITY WIND PROJECT SITE SCREENING REPORT has never been posted on the Falmouth web site. Town Meeting Members and the general public have never seen this report -

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative,MTC today is called the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, MassCEC

In 2005 Falmouth Massachusetts conducted a two part feasibility study for its first wind turbine called Falmouth Wind 1 .

The study was done on April 2005 and November 2005

The first half of the study April 19, 2005 has never been posted on the Town of Falmouth web site.

This half shows in section 5.1 the 99 homes by street address that would be affected by noise and shadow flicker.

Section 6.2.2 Shows a Special Permit 240-166 is required

Town Meeting Members and the general public should ask why it has never been posted as it shows :

The second half of the study November 2005 was posted on the Town of Falmouth web site

TOWN OF FALMOUTH COMMUNITY WIND PROJECT SITE SCREENING REPORT

April 19, 2005

Prepared by:KEMA & Ecology and Environment, Inc.

Contact: Jon Abe KEMA
3 Burlington Woods
Burlington, MA 01803

Funded by the Community Wind Collaborative of the Renewable Energy Trust

Notice and Acknowledgements

This report was prepared by KEMA (and subcontractor Ecology and Environment) in the course of performing work sponsored by the Renewable Energy Trust (RET), as administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), pursuant to work order number 05-2.

5.1 Visual and Noise Receptors and Potential Level of Impact

The potential visual and noise impacts of the proposed wind turbine are best considered in the context of where existing dwellings are located in relation to the turbine site. A total of 99 residential properties are located within a half-mile radius of the turbine site. All of these properties lie to the west and south of the site. (See Attachment A for a map of the site).

There are 68 properties located to the west of the turbine site. All 68 properties are located on the west side of Route 28 (Rte. 28). Rte. 28 therefore serves as a barrier between these 68 dwellings and the turbine site. Approximately one third of the 68 dwellings are within 500 feet of Rte. 28, and all are within a quarter mile of Rte. 28. The closest dwellings are approximately 1700 feet due west of the proposed turbine site. Sixty-one of the 68 properties are located on one of the following residential streets: Ridgeview Drive; Ambleside Drive; Westmoreland Drive; and Brantwood Road. Seven properties are located to the east of West Falmouth Highway.
There are 31 properties to the south of the turbine site. A vast majority of these dwellings are located off of Blacksmith Shop Road, primarily on the south side of the road. A few dwellings are located off of Durham Road and Durfee Drive. The closest dwelling to the south of the proposed turbine site is approximately 1350 feet due south.

The features of the landscape to the west and south of the turbine site need to be considered when assessing potential visual and noise impacts of the turbine.


6.2.2 Town Code

The recommended location is on land Zoned as Public Use. A Special Use Permit is required for construction and operation of windmills in the Town of Falmouth. A petitioner may apply for a special use permit provided they meet the requirements of ARTICLE XXXIV, Windmills § 240-166 of the Town Code.

Issues will be considered in the process, include setback and noise distance. The special permit requires a setback from the property line of at least the distance from the base of the turbine to the highest tip of the turbine plus 10 feet. It also includes a rebuttable presumption that noise from the windmill in excess of 40 dBa, as measured at the property line, shall not be excessive. The requirements also require that the turbine is protected from unlawful access and requires underground wiring. The special permit also expressed concern with prop and ice throw and communications interference. Based on our preliminary project assessment, the recommended location should be able to satisfy these requirements and no overly contentious permitting issues have been identified.

April 19,2005 Falmouth Community Site Screening Report

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4cvi5tu6i7yww7a/2005%20April%20KEMA-MTC%20Falmouth_Site_Screening_Study.pdf?dl=0