Wind farm critics challenge state law
By Nick Sambides Jr.
BDN Staff
LINCOLN, Maine — A state law fast-tracking wind-to-energy projects is unconstitutional, and the state’s own peer reviewer admitted that state methods for reviewing project noise is flawed, an attorney opposing the $130 million Rollins Mountain wind farm argues in a brief submitted to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. READ MORE
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Open Letter to Martha’s Vineyard Commission Commissioners
Open letter to Martha’s Vineyard Commission Commissioners:
We (Let Vineyarders Decide) are so pleased that the jurisdiction of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission has been recognized relative to the waters off Nomans Land.
We are also pleased by the efforts of our local representatives to persuade Secretary Bowles of the infirmities of the draft Oceans Act Plan plan that placed a wind factory adjacent to the National Wildlife area of Nomans Land.
We are grateful that the Vineyard has been spared the cascading array of problems such a wind factory off Nomans would produce regarding our economy, ecology and spirituality.
But, shockingly, the Vineyard remains in peril. And why is that?
Because the State still plans to include the waters off Cuttyhunk in the Town of Gosnold, County of Dukes County as the sole remaining site for 100% of its commercial wind development.
Were that to happen all ills previously discussed including vistas, harm to migrating birds, adverse effects on fish and fisheries, navigation problems, adverse impact on our economy and cultural and spiritual degradation would occur.
It is to avoid exactly such foreseeable consequences of poor development decisions that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission was created.
But in this case there has been a disquieting silence by the MVC Commissioners to assert jurisdiction and begin the process of leading us into a proper resolution of these matters.
Now is not the time to talk of mitigation of damages, now is the time to seek to avoid harm that would require mitigation.
To those who say it should be left to the 86 people who live in Gosnold to determine whether the MVC has a role to play, we 600 plus members of Let Vineyarders Decide (“LVD”), and, we’re sure, the vast majority of Vineyarders say that while the 86 people of Gosnold should participate meaningfully in all considerations and have the full support and assistance of the MVC, they can not and should not unilaterally make a decision of such magnitude for the Vineyard.
We read the Statute creating the MVC as having conferred jurisdiction on it of the waters of Gosnold.
We beseech you to exert your usual sound leadership to protect the Vineyard from irreparable harm it is uniquely in your power to prevent, while at the same time working closely with our neighbors in Cuttyhunk and elsewhere in Gosnold.
Please, Martha’s Vineyard Commissioners, vigorously lead us out of this peril.
Respectfully,
Andy Goldman
Director, Let Vineyarders Decide
http://letvineyardersdecide.org/
We (Let Vineyarders Decide) are so pleased that the jurisdiction of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission has been recognized relative to the waters off Nomans Land.
We are also pleased by the efforts of our local representatives to persuade Secretary Bowles of the infirmities of the draft Oceans Act Plan plan that placed a wind factory adjacent to the National Wildlife area of Nomans Land.
We are grateful that the Vineyard has been spared the cascading array of problems such a wind factory off Nomans would produce regarding our economy, ecology and spirituality.
But, shockingly, the Vineyard remains in peril. And why is that?
Because the State still plans to include the waters off Cuttyhunk in the Town of Gosnold, County of Dukes County as the sole remaining site for 100% of its commercial wind development.
Were that to happen all ills previously discussed including vistas, harm to migrating birds, adverse effects on fish and fisheries, navigation problems, adverse impact on our economy and cultural and spiritual degradation would occur.
It is to avoid exactly such foreseeable consequences of poor development decisions that the Martha’s Vineyard Commission was created.
But in this case there has been a disquieting silence by the MVC Commissioners to assert jurisdiction and begin the process of leading us into a proper resolution of these matters.
Now is not the time to talk of mitigation of damages, now is the time to seek to avoid harm that would require mitigation.
To those who say it should be left to the 86 people who live in Gosnold to determine whether the MVC has a role to play, we 600 plus members of Let Vineyarders Decide (“LVD”), and, we’re sure, the vast majority of Vineyarders say that while the 86 people of Gosnold should participate meaningfully in all considerations and have the full support and assistance of the MVC, they can not and should not unilaterally make a decision of such magnitude for the Vineyard.
We read the Statute creating the MVC as having conferred jurisdiction on it of the waters of Gosnold.
We beseech you to exert your usual sound leadership to protect the Vineyard from irreparable harm it is uniquely in your power to prevent, while at the same time working closely with our neighbors in Cuttyhunk and elsewhere in Gosnold.
Please, Martha’s Vineyard Commissioners, vigorously lead us out of this peril.
Respectfully,
Andy Goldman
Director, Let Vineyarders Decide
http://letvineyardersdecide.org/
Monday, November 23, 2009
Health Concerns
The recent controversy to place two massive wind farms right off our coast has raised a host of local rule and environmental questions. One area of concern that has not yet received sufficient attention in the press, both for water and land based wind turbines, relates to issues of health.
Recent evidence exists that subjecting humans to pulsating, low-frequency noise associated with wind turbines creates sleep disturbances leading to depression, chronic stress, migraines, nausea and dizziness, exhaustion and anger, memory loss and cognitive difficulties, cardiac arrhythmia, increased heart rate and blood pressure. For example, an article from 2008 cites "no fewer than 13 studies that show noise from wind turbines at night can disturb residents more than 2 Km away ( "Simple guidelines for siting wind turbines to prevent health risks," George W. Kamperman and Richard R. JamesDearborn, NOISE-CON 2008, Michigan, July 28-31, 2008).
Also, "Those living close to the source of noise can develop what has been termed "Vibroacoustic Disease (VAD). Noise from wind turbines exhibit the characteristics of noise experienced in various occupations (aircrews, aircraft maintenance workers, ship workers and an islander population exposed to environmental infra and low frequency noise) and has been shown to lead to VAD. Complaints from people living near wind turbines are the same as those seizures from persons who have developed VAD." (Vibroacoustic disease: Biological effects of infrasound and low-frequency noise explained by mechanotransduction cellular signaling." Mariana Alves-Pereira and Nuno A.A. Castelo Branco, Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, (2007) 93: 256-279).
Any state government, town or private citizen that permits or installs a wind turbine(s) really may be causing more harm than good, and, of course, subjecting themselves to potential liabilities down the road, if and, when our populace begins to exhibit medical issues!
Given that the Oceans Plan has not studied in detail any of the impacts on our ecosystems, tourist economy or the culture of the Wampanoag's, we seriously doubt if the our leaders in Boston have ruled out any of the potential health hazards described above. We as concerned citizens really have to ask why? Why the rush to judgment when our vistas, our birds, our fish, our way of life and now, most importantly, our health is at stake?
Recent evidence exists that subjecting humans to pulsating, low-frequency noise associated with wind turbines creates sleep disturbances leading to depression, chronic stress, migraines, nausea and dizziness, exhaustion and anger, memory loss and cognitive difficulties, cardiac arrhythmia, increased heart rate and blood pressure. For example, an article from 2008 cites "no fewer than 13 studies that show noise from wind turbines at night can disturb residents more than 2 Km away ( "Simple guidelines for siting wind turbines to prevent health risks," George W. Kamperman and Richard R. JamesDearborn, NOISE-CON 2008, Michigan, July 28-31, 2008).
Also, "Those living close to the source of noise can develop what has been termed "Vibroacoustic Disease (VAD). Noise from wind turbines exhibit the characteristics of noise experienced in various occupations (aircrews, aircraft maintenance workers, ship workers and an islander population exposed to environmental infra and low frequency noise) and has been shown to lead to VAD. Complaints from people living near wind turbines are the same as those seizures from persons who have developed VAD." (Vibroacoustic disease: Biological effects of infrasound and low-frequency noise explained by mechanotransduction cellular signaling." Mariana Alves-Pereira and Nuno A.A. Castelo Branco, Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, (2007) 93: 256-279).
Any state government, town or private citizen that permits or installs a wind turbine(s) really may be causing more harm than good, and, of course, subjecting themselves to potential liabilities down the road, if and, when our populace begins to exhibit medical issues!
Given that the Oceans Plan has not studied in detail any of the impacts on our ecosystems, tourist economy or the culture of the Wampanoag's, we seriously doubt if the our leaders in Boston have ruled out any of the potential health hazards described above. We as concerned citizens really have to ask why? Why the rush to judgment when our vistas, our birds, our fish, our way of life and now, most importantly, our health is at stake?
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Renewable Energy Areas, Including Adjacent Federal Waters
On this map provided by the State, you can see that the entire west and southern shore 3 miles off the coast of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (grayed area - federal waters) are being considered as potential sites for industrial wind park development. This is happening quickly, and citizens will not have a chance to approve whatever plan the State decides upon. Please get involved and tell your friends to get involved.
http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/mop/draft_plan/v1/figs/full/4-3-full.pdf
Last Day to Have Your Say!
Tomorrow, November 23 @ 5:00 pm, the period for public comments on the Draft Ocean Management Plan. Please let your voice be heard. Don't let the State say nobody cared enough to give their input. CLICK HERE to give your input now.
Friday, November 20, 2009
This is what constructing an off shore wind park looks like
This is a promo video from the construction of the off shore windpark "Princes Amalia" (Q7), off the cost of The Netherlands close to the town of IJmuiden. The one proposed for off of Aquinnah would be more than 2Xs as large.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ex-partner of Boston wind exec charged
Ex-partner of Boston wind exec charged
Italians nab soccer club president in energy fraud Read the article here.
Italians nab soccer club president in energy fraud Read the article here.
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