Falmouth said no, and means no

On May 21, 2013 Falmouth citizens resoundingly defeated Question 2 on the Annual Town Election Ballot, seeking authorization for the Town to borrow funds to dismantle Falmouth’s large-scale municipal turbines.   More than 67% town-wide voted “No” to borrow funds to dismantle the turbines as did 54% of the voters in the precinct in which the turbines are located.  The voter turnout was the highest of any Annual Town Election.

Nevertheless, after the vote, the Falmouth Board of Selectmen petitioned the legislature with an act that was taken up and sponsored by Senator Therese Murray and Representatives Timothy Madden and David Vieira to authorize the Town of Falmouth to borrow – yes, to borrow even after the overwhelming rejection to borrow at the ballot box – the funds necessary to remove the turbines via Senate Bill S. 1802. 

Although borrowing state funds to fund a non-asset requires special legislation, it remains unclear why the Selectmen submitted the proposed act after such an overwhelming vote by Falmouth’s voters not to borrow money to dismantle the turbines or why Falmouth’s State Senator and Representatives co-sponsored it.  Did they not hear the voice of the people? 

Over the past decade, seven Town Meeting votes followed by town-wide votes, as needed, endorsed putting up the turbines for the purpose of generating clean renewable energy to offset the Town’s electricity costs, to improve the environment and to meet the Town’s policies and goals to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.  The current estimate is that the net benefit to Falmouth could be $11 million to offset electricity costs over the next 18 years if the turbines are run per the manufacturer’s specifications.

Though there have been complaints about the turbines by a small minority of turbine neighbors – less than 12% of homes within one-half mile of the turbines -- no scientific, medical or technical evidence exists confirming these complaints are a result of turbine operation.  Regarding audible noise, an expert review found the difference in sound levels with the turbines off far exceeded measurements of on and off scenarios <http://tinyurl.com/massdepsoundreview> when a couple of exceedances were found outdoors at night at one location.  The analysis involved use of the same Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) data derived from its first time use of a statistical method applied to wind turbines.   No noise violation has been issued by the state over the operation of Falmouth’s turbines.  Expert studies have found no significant impacts to health as a result of infrasound emitted from wind turbines <http://tinyurl.com/turbineinfrasoundexpert>.

On health impacts overall, the DEP in its January 2012 report by an independent panel of experts concluded that there is no definitive scientific evidence of health impacts wind turbines <http://tinyurl.com/massdepturbineimpact> as did the Falmouth Board of Health on March 18, 2013 and five local physicians via their March 19, 2013 letter to that Board <www.tinyurl.com/mdwrote>.  In addition, the Falmouth Assessor’s Office reported that there is no substantiation of any adverse impact on property values in the vicinity of the turbines as compared to values in other parts of Falmouth.  Any issue pertaining to flicker is easily remedied.

Considering the resounding vote of the citizens of Falmouth not to borrow funds to dismantle their municipal turbines, I recommend that Senator Murray rescind S. 1802 and not take up the valuable time of the legislature to consider such an act and correct this irresponsible action and inappropriate use of authority.  Vote results matter.

First published on July 23, 2013 by the Cape Cod Times.