Wind Direction Change From Former Town Official

Megan Amsler ended her term as member and chairman of Falmouth’s Energy Committee Tuesday, according to the town’s May 27th Energy Committee Agenda.

The very next day Ms. Amsler gave a presentation to the Massachusetts Wind Working Group Meeting on Offshore Wind (http://www.masscec.com/events/massachusetts-wind-working-group-meeting-and-panel-discussion).

During the presentation Amsler claimed that there had been a "Wild West" environment for Massachusetts land based wind development over the last several years.

She raised the analogy to promote her new business direction associated with Cape & Islands Self-Reliance Corp. involving offshore wind. It’s interesting that she used the "Wild West" connotation which is commonly used to refer to "lawlessness."  

Is Ms. Amsler’s "Wild West" reference an accurate depiction of the state’s land based wind agenda?  Is she admitting to what she had previously refused to acknowledge as Energy Committee Chair?  Has the promotion of land based wind development by the Patrick Administration and advanced by the Mass Clean Energy Center indeed been lawless in a “Wild West” type of manner?

Besides being curious myself, I’d imagine the Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting and likely the entire community will expect some explanation to why this “Wild West” atmosphere hadn’t been shared while she was acting as Energy Committee chairman. 

It’s ironic. What a difference a day makes!