Falmouth's Contradictory Energy Policies

A huge solar array is being built on Falmouth’s capped landfill, thanks to the Falmouth Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC). Because there’s no electricity consumption at the landfill, power from the solar array will be exported off-site and sold, exactly as intended by Massachusetts net metering laws. Clean energy, reduced carbon emissions, and revenue for the Town – a win for everyone

A mile away, one of the Town’s wind turbine sits idle. Wind1 hasn’t run since April because Falmouth’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) denied the Town’s application for special permit. A key factor in the ZBA decision was that Wind1 would generate more electricity than needed by the wastewater plant, so it doesn't satisfy an “accessory use” requirement of town bylaws. Selectmen are challenging the decision in court.

So we have a wind turbine turned off because it would export excess electricity, while a vast solar farm is built specifically to export excess electricity. This odd policy contradiction is expensive for Falmouth taxpayers -and for the environment.

If Wind1 ran 24x7, it would annually generate about the same amount of electricity as the huge solar farm at the landfill.

A state law passed in 2007 authorized Falmouth to “install, finance and operate wind energy facilities” at the wastewater plant on Blacksmith Shop Road.

Although some residents have expressed concerns about health effects related to the turbines, Falmouth’s Board of Health (BOH) does not support that concern, as stated in their 2015 letter to selectmen. In 2013, a group of five Falmouth physicians signed a letter supporting turbine operation. A 2012 letter to BOH from a distinguished professor of public health strongly supported turbine operation.

In May 2016, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled that greenhouse gas emissions must be limited, and the limits must decrease annually. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg said efforts to decrease emissions “must begin immediately”.

Hopefully Falmouth Selectmen will prevail in court, and Wind1 can continue generating clean energy, and income for the town.

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