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Wind Turbines Hurt Political Careers

Wind Turbines Hurt Political Careers  

Voting in the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act,WESRA, would have ended city and town wind turbine bylaws in all the communities of Massachusetts. This was not a good idea for some Massachusetts State Representatives in 2010.

The wind energy bill would have allowed any size wind turbine anywhere in any town. The bill would not allow any local boards any say on the size and placement of wind turbines.  

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Backing Cape Wind and accepting political contributions has also hurt many Massachusetts politicians.

Many residential and commercial electric rate customers could see their electric bills become the size of a second loan on their home.  

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Since 2010 the Town of Falmouth has had to deal with two turbines creating two types of noise. The first noise in called regulatory measured in decibels with a meter. The second is called human annoyance. Aside from Massachusetts regulations, residences must also be taken into consideration. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in 2013 changed the setbacks to 2000 feet. The state agency placed wind turbines Ad Hoc in Falmouth prior to 2013.  

The Massachusetts Supreme Court has shut down the Falmouth turbines 12 hours a day because of the nuisance.  

Former Representative Matthew Patrick (D-Falmouth) was ousted at the polls by Republican David Vieira.   

One of the quotes from the 2010 election was: “I don’t believe that Mr. Patrick’s voice speaks for us any longer.”  

Former Representative Matthew Patrick (D-Falmouth) today July 1, 2014 kicks off his campaign to take over the vacant senate seat of retiring Senate President Theresa Murray .

Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray says NO to re-election. Many believe the health & financial issues over commercial wind turbines contributed to the decision.

Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray has in the past has publicly announced her opposition to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act (WESRA).

How will Former Representative Matthew Patrick (D-Falmouth) resolve the commercial wind turbine catastrophe in Falmouth if elected to the Massachusetts Senate ?

What about the wind turbine victims ?

 http://archive.capenews.net/communities/region/news/566   Matt Patrick has been one of the most vigilant, locally focused legislators in Massachusetts," Walsh said. "Losing him is disappointing."

Patrick said his stance on wind turbines "hurt a little bit" but that people were misled on some aspects of the Cape Wind project and on the state's proposed wind energy siting bill, which he supported.

Barry Funfar, a Falmouth resident who lives near one of the town's turbines and has complained of health problems arising from it, said he chose to vote for Vieira because he visited Funfar's Ridgeview Drive neighborhood and "was sympathetic to the plight we're facing."


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