Falmouth Wind Turbines Investigation Long Overdue

Massachusetts and local officials knew well in advance of installation of the two town owned wind turbines from written letters, emails, memos,maps, a 2005 KEMA Inc study and a refusal by General Electric a domestic wind turbine company to place a single wind turbine because of residential setbacks and ice throw to a nearby highway.

The wind turbines were installed in 2010 and 2012.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection brokered a loan agreement which included a power production agreement on the second Falmouth wind ( Wind II) that totally disregarded the health and property rights of residential homes.

The MassDEP used ARRA funds to create a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety related to the implementation or use of covered stimulus funds and disregarded the refusal of General Electric a domestic wind turbine company.

An investigation is needed on how federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus funds were used for Falmouth Wind II to install a foreign made Vestas wind turbine after a domestic company General Electric refused

The Town had to file for a waiver to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 1—New England which was approved knowing the turbines generated 110 decibels of noise.

How did the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection broker the loan on Falmouth Wind II installed in 2012 when Vestas had warned in 2010 the turbines were too loud ?

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The 2010 Vestas noise warning :

"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."

August 3, 2010
Mr. Gerald Potamis
WasteWater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth Public Works
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540

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

Dear Mr. Potamis,

Due to the sound concerns regarding the first wind turbine installed at the wastewater treatment facility, the manufacturer of the turbines, Vestas, is keen for the Town of Falmouth to understand the possible noise and other risks associated with the installation of the second wind turbine.

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. These measurements are based on IEC standards for sound measurement which is calculated at a height of 10m above of the base of the turbine.

We understand that a sound study is being performed to determine what, if any, Impacts the second turbine will have to the nearest residences. Please be advised that should noise concerns arise with this turbine, the only option to mitigate normal operating sound from the V82 is to shut down the machine at certain wind speeds and directions. Naturally this would detrimentally affect power production.

The manufacturer also needs confirmation that the Town of Falmouth understands they are fully responsible for the site selection of the turbine and bear all responsibilities to address any mitigation needs of the neighbors.

Finally, the manufacturer has raised the possibility of ice throw concerns. Since Route 28 is relatively close to the turbine, precautions should be taken in weather that may cause icing.

To date on this project we have been unable to move forward with signing the contract with Vestas. The inability to release the turbine for shipment to the project site has caused significant [SIC] delays in our project schedule. In order to move forward the manufacturer requires your understanding and acknowledgement of these risks. We kindly request for this acknowledgement to be sent to us by August 4, 2010, as we have scheduled a coordination meeting with Vestas to discuss the project schedule and steps forward for completion of the project.

Please sign in the space provided below to indicate your understanding and acknowledgement of this letter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely,

(Bruce Mabbott's signature)
_________________
Bruce Mabbott Gerald Potamis
Project Manager Town of Falmouth

CC: Sumul Shah, Lumus Construction, Inc.
(Town of Falmouth's Wind-1 and Wind-2 Construction contractor)

Stephen Wiehe, Weston & Sampson
(Town of Falmouth's contract engineers)

Brian Hopkins, Vestas
(Wind-1, Wind-2's turbine manufacturer, and also Webb/NOTUS turbine)

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