Wind Neighbors in Falmouth Question Permit Process
January 28, 2013
Falmouth Turbine neighbors have day in court writes Sean Teehan in the Cape Cod Times about the lawsuit being heard today in Barnstable Superior Court.
[Todd] Drummey, along with Mark Cool, Brian Elder, Barry Funfar, Lawrence Worthington and Robert Laird, want a cease-and-desist order on Wind 1’s operation until it receives a special zoning permit from the town. The suit has been consolidated with one brought by Neil and Elizabeth Andersen, on the same grounds.
The article notes that a bill introduced this year may offer some relief for communities when they consider removing turbines:
Monday’s trial comes days after state Rep. David Vieira, R-Falmouth, filed a Wind Energy Relief Act at the Statehouse, which would create two funds totaling $22.5 million. The funds would go toward compensating people and businesses for detrimental effects on health or property resulting from turbines in locations chosen in cooperation with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Funds would also assist towns in relocating or decommissioning turbines.
The $22.5 million will not go very far in compensating people by buying up their property, with many Cape properties valued at half a million dollars. So even if values decline by 40%, as often happens, the MassCEC funds would not be enough to dismantle turbines or compensate wind neighbors.
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Falmouth Community Wind Project Site Screening Report
Falmouth Community Wind Project Site Screening Report
Apr 19, 2005 – FALMOUTH SITE SCREENING REPORT
This report was prepared by KEMA ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, INC
and funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
The date of the report April 19, 2005
The report says a Special permit is needed . Falmouth Wind 1 Turbine
Falmouth Community Wind Project Site Screening Report April 19,2005
The date is important for this report April 19,2005
Page 28 of the April 19, 2005 site review says : 6.2.2 a special permit is needed for the wind turbine
Please click here to review report :
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Yl3ICFJcNtcJ:www.cirenew.info/Electricpdfs/falmouthwindscreening.pdf+town+of+falmouth+community+site+screening+report+2005&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi49W9MYZShc48WC9-Zy-Vomge2o-MeG6_B-PTQP1IuL-V2ABWVkeBIpUpKBiJoGkaJc2xEjAGEstT91nAIM4rTWgxq1YCgG9SI4bGTTgvJhXVRbMmbSvNpmryPqPdVKNZL7ok8&sig=AHIEtbQsliJQJ-ShoM6WzyWqthnFcBdsMw
In 3rd receess. The attorneys agree to allow taping if video is not editted & certain possession will be only the privileged use of Falmouth community TV. Judge wants this agreement formalized, in writing, between all parties, so to prevent any potential for mistrial complications. Attorneys and videographer in conference.. FCTV is being contacted.. These court bench seat are hard and uncomfortable.
Court update
In the second receess .. Motion hes been filed (1st ammendment connotations). An accused bias member of the Falmouth pro wind advocates, has received necessary certification to video the gavel to gavel proceedings. This is being contested by alleged victims (complainants) that feel court testimony will suffer duress. The court has asked the videographer to read the motion, allegation etc. and will hear whether videographer will seek counsel to depend 1st ammendment implications. The resolution of this motion will preceded any movement on the original court hearing. Stay tuned