Falmouth Residents Suffer Wind Turbine Noise Described As Torture 5 Years

“Falmouth systematically denied negative information about the wind turbines. The information included memos, documents, videos, wind studies and letters.”

The ordinary Massachusetts citizens do not know about the evolving noise described as torture from commercial wind turbines and that’s how officials at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Town of Falmouth would like to keep it.

The opinion of Falmouth residents was very clear in May of 2013 when they rejected removal of the turbines. They were never told the truth and denied all the negative facts.

Today and in the future the taxpayers and citizens of Falmouth are going to held responsible financially and spiritually for what they were never told.The citizens and Falmouth Town Meeting Members were systematically denied negative information about the wind turbines. The information included memos, documents, videos, wind studies and letters. The politicians don’t care they have an agenda and now that it has gone terribly wrong the taxpayers are going to have to pick up the tab.

The denial of these negative documents has resulted in taking the health, liberty and security of up to 200 residential home owners around the turbines.

For the last five years these wind victim families in search of the American Dream have recieved degrading treatment from all local town boards. For all intent and purposes the town voted to auction off the homes around the wind turbines with no compensation for the illegitimate greater good of the community.

After the victims suffered and are still suffering the noise described as torture, degradation and humiliation forced on them the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center dealt another blow to human dignity. While the victims are spending every dime they have to protect their homes the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center gave the Town of Falmouth 1.8 million to help the town finance litigation against the victims. The agencies of the state are attempting to seize their property with taxpayer funds.

We know Falmouth families have had to abandon their homes as unlivable. The cause is the adverse health effects and wind turbines, including annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, and physiological effects .

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center formerly know as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative was the original owner of Falmouth Wind 1. The state agency, state, local officials and wind turbine contractors knew prior to any installations Falmouth Wind 1 generated 110 decibels of noise twice the specifications.

The 110 decibels of noise equates to a hard rock band playing outdoors 24/7.

For the last five years the Town of Falmouth hid the noise warning letter and other documents from the public. Here is that letter called the “Smoking Gun”

“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.”

Vestas raises concerns about turbine noise (Letter)

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.

We understand that a sound study is being performed to determine what, if any, Impacts the second turbine will have to the nearest residences. Please be advised that should noise concerns arise with this turbine, the only option to mitigate normal operating sound from the V82 is to shut down the machine at certain wind speeds and directions. Naturally this would detrimentally affect power production.

The manufacturer also needs confirmation that the Town of Falmouth understands they are fully responsible for the site selection of the turbine and bear all responsibilities to address any mitigation needs of the neighbors.

Finally, the manufacturer has raised the possibility of ice throw concerns. Since Route 28 is relatively close to the turbine, precautions should be taken in weather that may cause icing.

To date on this project we have been unable to move forward with signing the contract with Vestas. The inability to release the turbine for shipment to the project site has caused significant [SIC] delays in our project schedule. In order to move forward the manufacturer requires your understanding and acknowledgement of these risks. We kindly request for this acknowledgement to be sent to us by August 4, 2010, as we have scheduled a coordination meeting with Vestas to discuss the project schedule and steps forward for completion of the project.

Please sign in the space provided below to indicate your understanding and acknowledgement of this letter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.


Sincerely,

(Bruce Mabbott’s signature)
_____________________
Bruce Mabbott Gerald Potamis
Project Manager Town of Falmouth


CC: Sumul Shah, Lumus Construction, Inc.
(Town of Falmouth’s Wind-1 and Wind-2 Construction contractor)

Stephen Wiehe, Weston & Sampson
(Town of Falmouth’s contract engineers)

Brian Hopkins, Vestas
(Wind-1, Wind-2’s turbine manufacturer, and also Webb/NOTUS turbine)

http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.VeYr-flViko

General Electric a domestic commercial wind turbine company refused prior to the installation of Wind 1 to build commercial wind turbines in Falmouth due to set back issues.