Shelburne Wind Election Victory and Falmouth BOH Requests Study

Shelburne–With 30% of town voters casting ballots, John Wheeler won a seat on the Shelburne Planning Board according to Diane Broncaccio, reporting in the Greenfield Recorder. Wheeler beat incumbent Christopher Davenport’s write-in bid by a 3-to-1 margin. Selectman John Payne was successful in his re-election effort. Shelburne Wind,  the coalition of Shelburne and Buckland residents fighting the Mt. Massaemet turbine development proposal, supported the two candidates.

Falmouth–Taking health complaints of 47 residents seriously, the Falmouth Board of Health drafted a letter asking the Mass. Department of Public Health to undertake a turbine impacts study. The action was voted on at their Monday June 11, 2012 meeting. Brent Runyon reported in the Falmouth Enterprise,

“This appeal is compelled by two years of consistent and persistent complaints of health impacts during turbine operation,” wrote board member George Heufelder in a draft of the letter. He also noted that requesting a study on the health impacts of wind turbines is unusual….

Chairman Gail A. Harkness compiled the written testimony of affected neighbors into a spreadsheet and gave an updated tally of complaints. Of the 47 people who gave testimony about the health effects from wind turbines, 40 said they have trouble sleeping, 25 reported an increase in stress, 21 reported mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, 15 reported hearing problems, 12 reported cognitive difficulties, 11 said they have headaches, and 10 people reported increased blood pressure or atypical heart rhythms.