Susan Moran Not Endorsed For Mass State Senate Seat

Falmouth Select Board Member and county delegate Susan Moran is running for the state Senate seat left open by Senator Vinny deMacedo..

Voters will vote in a primary election on March 3, 2020, and then a general election on March 31, 2020.

In June of 2017, Susan Moran as Chair of the Select Board voted not to appeal the court decision to shut down the two town-owned wind turbines.

Board Chairwoman Susan Moran said this about the turbines: “It's time to put the matter behind us and move forward.”

That's far from what happened in the next three years the town is still spending millions.

The decision put the town on the hook for millions of dollars including a five million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loan brokered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

The 5 million federal loans require Falmouth Wind II the second of the two turbines remain energy-efficient or be paid back immediately to the State Revolving Fund.

In 2019 the Falmouth Select Board recommended spending 2.5 million to put the two 15-year-old gear-driven town owned wind turbines in storage and more money down the road.

In November of 2019 Falmouth Town Manager and Select Board members warned Town Meeting Members if they did not vote the 2.5 million the town would have to pay back the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust for the original American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant for Wind 2, the remaining amount of approximately $3.5 plus 2 percent interest.

Falmouth Town Meeting voted the 2.5 million.

Of real concern is why even today the Town of Falmouth has never after ten years posted the Vestas wind turbine warning letter from August of 2010 prior to construction of the wind turbines:

Vestas raises concerns about turbine noise (Letter)

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. ...............
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............

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.

Susan Moran : State of the Town: Falmouth Wind Turbine Update February 2018

State of the Town: Falmouth Wind Turbine Update February 2018