Shelburne’s (and Buckland’s) Sleeping Giant is Awake

Photo Credit: Diane Broncaccio, The Recorder (Greenfield)

When was the last time a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing brought out 250 people to show their concern about anything in town government, never mind something as big (and often stealthily pursued) as an industrial wind turbine project? That’s what happened on Thursday November 17, 2011

The small towns of Shelburne and Buckland, connected by the village of Shelburne Falls, had much to ponder in the Mt. Massaemet Wind proposal. Thanks to a strong neighbor-to-neighbor effort, with at least 3 groups springing up, the turnout at the ZBA hearing sent a message to town officials and the proposal was withdrawn. This is a great victory, but it is also an early skirmish. The developer is now aware of what he is up against. And with the WESRA initiative moving slowly through the legislature, it could end the ability of towns to make their own decisions about wind projects.