Wind Wise Advocates Monitor Legislation

Going to the state house to support common interests–in transparency in electric rates and in auditing the costs of green initiatives–Wind Wise members  from 11 towns met with legislators on June 26, 2012. Individuals represented communities across the state, from the hilltowns, the islands, the Berkshires, and Cape Cod to Central Mass., the South Shore and the South Coast. The following day they could watch from the House gallery or on streaming video as the amendments for H4198 were voted.  Transparency (amendment #28) and the Independent Commission to review cumulative costs (amendment #22) both passed. The effort to launch a health study of turbine effects on residents was defeated. There were no signs of elements of “WESRA lite,” now a bill with the number H4112. View a chart of the amendments and their outcome: H4198-amendments-6-26-12