Wind Permits Lots Of Planning-Permitting By Municipal Staff - Energy Committee Members

How Many Municipal Staff or Energy Committee Members Involved In Planning and Permitting The Turbines Knew About The Vestas 110 Decibel Noise Warning Letter In 2010 ?

Why Did The Town Hide The Letter For 5 Years ?

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'A lot of the permitting and planning was conducted by municipal staff or Energy Committee members, which helped to keep “soft costs” down. '

http://www.mapc.org/subregions/ssc/ssc-workshops-april-2010#amsler

Getting a Community to Embrace Wind Energy
Megan Amsler
Cape & Islands Self Reliance Corporation
Falmouth Energy Committee
Megan Amsler's presentation

Discussion notes:

• Falmouth Energy Committee began with inventory of municipal energy usage across hundreds of municipal energy accounts.
• Important to include neighbors as informed decision-makers in renewable energy planning process.
• Consult with others to benefit from “lessons learned” during other community energy projects.
• Falmouth is installing two turbines at the municipal sewage treatment facility
• Bid documents are available on the town website
• A lot of the permitting and planning was conducted by municipal staff or Energy Committee members, which helped to keep “soft costs” down.
• The town installed a MET tower for 1 year; average wind speed 6.5 m/s from southeast
• The first turbine was funded by advances on renewable energy credits (RECs) from Renewable Energy Trust; second turbine financed through ARRA stimulus funding.
• Net metering allows the town to “cash out” for the equivalent cost of energy at the rates charged to the wastewater treatment facility (the meter through which surplus energy flows back to the grid.
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• THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH HID THIS NOISE WARNING LETTER FOR 5 YEARS
• In the following letter Vestas wind company reiterates prior to August 2010 in writing that the Town of Falmouth had been previously warned the turbine generates up to 110 decibels
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  “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.”
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• 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.
• http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.Ve9oyhFVikp