Politics & Government

Falmouth Townspeople Testify on Turbine Health

Falmouth residents urged lawmakers Tuesday on Beacon Hill to do a thorough, scientific study on the effects of wind turbines on humans--for once and for all.

More than two dozen residents testified at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Public Health, which focused primarily on environmental health hazards.

"Four of the bills before the committee, including one sponsored by state Rep. Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown, call for an investigation and study into the health effects from wind turbines," the Times reported.

Residents who live nearby Wind 1 and 2 described physical effects from the noise, flickering shadows and changes in air pressure. They reported headaches, trouble sleeping and anxiety.

“Our government is knowingly hurting people,” one resident, Barry Funfar, said. He called the area around the turbines a "toxic zone."

Funfar said he was just recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in Vietnam, and that the turbines had destroyed his healing.

Lilli-Ann Green, a Wellfleet resident who has researched turbine operations all over the world, said the downfalls of living near wind turbines are also being felt in Europe.

“There are clusters of people all over the world who are living too close to wind turbines and getting sick,” she said.

The turbines have been a constant debate for Falmouth residents since they were first installed two years ago. 

In June, Sen. Therese Murray sponsored a bill to help Falmouth borrow funds to remove the controversial wind turbines.

But in May, townspeople voted in more than a 2:1 margin in favor of keeping the turbines. The vote was 6,001 against and 2,940 in favor of removing the turbines.
 


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