MassDEP US EPA Blew Falmouth Wind Turbine Noise Warnings

MassDEP US EPA Town Blew Wind Turbine Noise Warnings

Falmouth, Massachusetts Had Noise Warnings Prior to Construction of Town-owned Falmouth Wind I and II

Installed in 2010 and 2012 - Town warned August 3, 2010: The foreign-made Vestas V-82 type 1.65 commercial wind turbine rated at 110 decibels is twice as loud as the General Electric wind turbine used in the 2005 KEMA Inc & Ecology and Environment, Inc. study done in 2005

The town never filed Special Permit 240-166 because it required notification and hearings at the zoning board with neighbors!

Massachusetts courts shut down nuisance wind turbines June 2017

Falmouth Wind II outstanding ARRA loan 3.5 million plus interest due now as no longer energy efficient.

TOWN OF FALMOUTH COMMUNITY WIND PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY

November 2005

Prepared by: KEMA, Inc. &
Ecology and Environment, Inc.

Funded by the Community Wind Collaborative of the Renewable Energy Trust

Page 35
5.3 Local, State and Federal Environmental Permits 5.3.1 Local Permits and Planning

"A Special Use Permit is required for construction and operation of windmills in the Town of Falmouth. " Issues considered in the process, include setback and noise. Based on our preliminary project assessment, the recommended location should be able to satisfy its requirements and no overly contentious permitting issues have been identified.

Page 38

6.1 Visual and Noise 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. The landscape to the west and south can be characterized as wooded, with rolling glacial topography. The proposed turbine site is located at approximately 150 feet of elevation. Moving west, the land slopes down toward Route 28, with relatively steep gradients on the west and east sides of the roadway. The roadway sits below the surrounding landscape at approximately 110 feet of elevation. The homes closest to Rte. 28 rest at elevations of 110 to 120 feet. There is a gentle downward gradient to the northwest, extending away from these homes and away from the turbine. South of the turbine site, the closest homes are found at elevations between 120 to 140 feet.

The rolling topography between these homes and the turbine site varies between 100 and 190 feet of elevation, forming a potential visual and noise barrier between the dwellings and the proposed turbine.

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

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Town warned August 3, 2010: The foreign-made Vestas V-82 type 1.65 commercial wind turbine rated at 110 decibels is twice as loud as the General Electric wind turbine used in the 2005 KEMA Inc & Ecology and Environment, Inc. study done in 2005

August 3, 2010

WasteWater Superintendent

Town of Falmouth Public Works

59 Town Hall SquareFalmouth, MA 0254o

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

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.

https://waubrafoundation.org.a...