8/18/11 Press Release–Statewide coalition calls for transparency
Brimfield, MA – August 16, 2011 – Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts, a state-wide coalition of community organizations and citizens, today announced it is asking the MA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the MA Dept. of Public Health (DPH) to go public with the proceedings of the wind science panel studying the health effects of wind turbines.
The state-wide organization made its decision due to lack of transparency in selecting panel members, secrecy of the panel proceedings, narrow scope of work and potential bias of at least some of the panel members.
In addition, the timing of the convening of the secret panel is also brought into question when a bill to establish a more comprehensive and open Commission to study the health effects of wind turbines has been filed and will have a hearing in October.
More information on the Press Packet page.
Siting Bill to be Heard on the Mountaintop
The latest versions of the wind siting bill that failed to pass in the last session are slated for a hearing on September 7, 2011 at 10:00 am. Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA is the location for one of two planned hearings. The ski operation has a 1.5 MW turbine to reduce costs for its operations.
This very inopportune timing and location seems designed to prevent opposition to the bills from being heard.
The first days of classes in many Massachusetts schools and colleges occur that week. Parents, teachers, students and staff will not be able to get away. Their concerns about the threat to their health and to their ability to have local control over siting decisions will not receive the hearing they deserve.
The State of Massachusetts gave over half a million dollars in grants from the Renewable Energy Trust (RET) to the Jiminy Peak turbine. RET funds come from surcharges on commercial and residential utility bills.
Cape makes news
Reporter Patrick Cassidy began the week with the even-handed article in the Cape Cod Times on the DEP/DPH health study and our call for a moratorium : Statewide coalition urges moratorium on wind turbines. In the article, Cassidy reviews the status of wind siting and notes that pending legislation to speed up project approval–The Wind Energy Siting Reform Act–will be on the legislative agenda in the fall. According to state Rep. David Vieira, R-Falmouth, the legislators are hearing from constituents, raising concerns about the bill (which narrowly failed to pass in the last session).
Later in the week Cassidy reported that the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates voted to investigate questions raised about the Cape Light Compact and the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative. Both agencies have been active in trying to site turbines. He writes, “Cape Light Compact and the cooperative have come under fire from critics of land-based wind turbines who question the transfer of funds between the organizations and whether there is proper oversight of the agencies’ activities.”
Meanwhile the Bournedale project received a jolt on Monday when the Fletchers, who own Grazing Fields Farm, testified at the Cape Cod Commission’s Monday afternoon hearing in Bourne. Besides equestrian-trainers Kathryn and Michael Fletcher, the Bourne Courier‘s article on the Wicked Local website quotes many opponents of the scaled-down project, including James Potter, head of Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy, and Pilgrim Pines developer Mark Hebb.
Early Action in August All at the Cape
August 1, Bourne: Monday’s hearing of the Cape Cod Commission regarding the siting of 4 industrial wind turbines close to the Bournedale Elementary School is a must-attend event for concerned citizens on the Cape. The hearing begins at 5 pm at the Upper Cape Regional Technical High School at 220 Sandwich Road, Bourne. It is the final hearing to consider the New Generation Wind proposal. The project will place turbines within 550 feet of an access road and 1000 feet of the school–an unconscionable safety risk.
responsiblewindenergy.org urges testimony aginst NGW project too close to school.
Revised site plan documents NGW submitted to the CCC show that placing turbines in Massachusetts pits owners of open tracts of land who want to site these turbines against residents and other uses (in this case NSTAR utility lines).
August 3, Brewster: The film “Pandora’s Pinwheels: Realities of Life with Wind Turbines” will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Brewster Ladies Library at 1822 Main Street (Rt. 6A). The program is free and open to the public. A Q&A will follow with filmmakers Lilli Green and Preston Ribnick. Brewster Citizens for Responsible Energy sponsors the screening. The film documents the reports of people who experience adverse effects from living in close proximity to wind turbines and includes interviews with over 15 experts who explain complex concepts in easy-to-understand language.
August 4, Woods Hole: The Woods Hole Film Festival presents Windfall by Laura Israel. Write-up is below the calendar on the events page.
“Wind Chill” front page article in Boston Herald
Reporter Christine McConville let Herald readers know that all is not right with the drive to site turbines in Massachusetts in her front page story Winds of fear over turbine plan. The petition campaign launched by Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts and confirmation that the state has convened an expert panel are the subject of the article
Eleanor Tillinghast (a Wind Wise board member) is quoted, “There is so much evidence from around the world now on the adverse health effects of living near wind turbines that we believe the state should act responsibly to protect its citizens.”
And otologist Dr. Steven Rauch from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary concurs that study is in order because “We know that in the animal kingdom, low frequency sound can cause harm, so it is not unreasonable to consider that same consequence in humans.”
WWMA calls for a moratorium on turbine siting until the panel’s review is completed.
Health Message Urges Moratorium
On behalf of the local groups concerned about hazards posed by industrial wind power, Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts organized a petition drive that prompted more than 400 residents from 106 towns and cities to call for a health review.
The materials have gone to John Auerbach, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH), and Kenneth Kimmel, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The two departments are convening an expert panel to review health and safety concerns.
Wind turbine health and safety review
Join the more than 200 people from over 50 towns who have added their names to the petition for a review of the health impacts of wind turbines. The petition asks the Massachusetts Commissioners of the departments of Public Health and Environmental Protection to forward to the expert panel it is convening materials submitted by the petitioners.
The petition also asks for meetings of the expert panel to be public, and for the panel to include one of the people whose health has been impacted by wind turbines.
The panel is expected to review public health and safety standards near wind turbines. The petition urges the panelists to consult information and research from independent experts, engineers, and health care professionals rather than materials produced by individuals or organizations that have a financial interest in the wind energy industry.
Sign the petition online by July 17th.
In addition to adding your name to the petition, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR OWN LETTER TO THE MA DEP. Please write even one or two sentences expressing your concerns.
Letters are due JULY 21, 2011.
Address your letter to:
Kenneth Kimmell, Commissioner of MA Department of Environmental Protection
John Auerbach, Commissioner of MA Department of Public Health
Send to: WindTurbineDocket.MassDEP@MassMail.State.MA.US or or by regular mail to MassDEP Wind Turbine Docket, 1 Winter Street 4th Floor Mailroom, Boston, MA 02108.
As per the document from DPH:
MassDEP, “in collaboration with …[Mass DPH], is in the process of convening an expert scientific panel on potential health impacts associated with exposure to wind turbines. The product of this Expert Panel will be a written report which includes the results of the panel’s review of available scientific peer review literature, as well as other reports and articles on the nature and extent of potential human health impacts, and will specifically include:
- The identification and characterization of specific attributes of concern (e.g., noise, vibration and light flicker) and documented or potential human health impacts;
- The magnitude and frequency of potential human health risks associated with the design, construction and operation of existing wind turbines;
- Documented best practices that could reduce documented or potential human health risks.”
Click to sign by JULY 17, 2011 —http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ma-dep-dph-letter.html
Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts is a statewide alliance of grass roots organizations and individuals who have united to challenge the assumption that wind energy is a viable green technology for the Commonwealth. This is an all volunteer organization. We receive no outside funding.
We use education and advocacy to assist communities where wind projects have been proposed.
We bring testimony and evidence to local, regional and statewide governmental bodies.
Our interests include:
- Compiling reports of adverse health effects caused by industrial wind turbines;
- Advocating for energy conservation and efficiency;
- Preserving the tradition of local control of land use and planning in the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth;
- Scrutinizing the cost of electricity from wind energy as it impacts on residential budgets and business bottom lines;
- Comparing the amount of electricity produced by wind turbines to other sources of electricity;
- Unmasking the true cost of using wind energy to produce electricity;
- Advocating for renewable energies that are appropriate and viable for Massachusetts;
- Evaluating the environmental impacts of industrial wind turbine projects;
- Preventing the industrial development of large tracts of land for wind turbines;
- Conserving the forests of Massachusetts for their carbon sequestering capacities;
- Conserving traditional scene scapes and historic places for the enjoyment of Massachusetts residents and in support of the state’s tourism industry; and
- Revealing the limits of Massachusetts wind energy’s role in the worldwide response to climate change.
Wind Wise ~ Massachusetts 