Comment to Planning Board Regarding Wind Science Panel Report

January 30, 2012

Board of Planning

Falmouth Town Hall

59 Town Hall Square

Falmouth, MA 02540

Re: Necessary Board Action regarding the Massachusetts Wind Science Panel

Report

 

Dear Chairman Herbst and Board Members,

The Planning Board’s efforts concerning the draft revision of the Falmouth Wind Turbine Bylaw, since the release of the State’s Wind Science Panel Report, may very well remain in limbo.  The Health Board made an invitation welcoming public comment during their review of the Wind Science Panel’s Report.  I assume, due to the joint boards effort involved, your board will entertain the same.

My initial impression is that a perplexing dilemma remains before the Planning Board.

Reflect closely on the following language directly from the report.

“Wind turbines can produce unwanted sound (referred to as noise) during operation (p. ES-4)”

“In other words, it is possible that noise from some wind turbines can cause sleep disruption (p. ES-6)

“Since the most commonly reported complaint by people living near turbines is sleep disruption…” (p. 14)

“It is acknowledged that noise from wind turbines can be annoying to some and associated with some reported health effects (e.g., sleep disturbance) (p.29)

“The epidemiological studies indicate that noise and/or vibration from wind turbines has been noted as causing sleep disruption (p. 30)

“Given the effects of sleep deprivation on health and well-being, including problems with mood and cognition, it is possible that cognitive and mood complaints and other medical or psychological issues associated with sleep loss can stem from living in immediate proximity to wind turbines, if the turbines disrupt sleep (p.32-33)

These statement culminate to represent one important fact.  The Report’s evidence demonstrate that industrial wind turbines cause annoyance and disrupt sleep.

 

The Planning Board is all too familiar with evidence in Falmouth documenting these Panel statements. The board knows the complaints, the documented illnesses, and the dimension to our community’s problem.

That is why feed-back to the State, intensely watched by many, is so very necessary from the Planning Board.  Making a collective board statement, knowing the local dynamics and how they relate to Report findings, is all the more valued since the board’s response will hold great sway in validating the Panel recommendations, as well as future wind energy plans and policy in other Commonwealth communities.

Your response, and the Report recommendation that I encourage the board to embrace is “In general, more comprehensive assessment of wind turbine noise in populated areas is recommended (p. ES-11).

I strongly urge the board not to weigh your responsibility to the community’s comprehensive plan goals lightly.  Please offer the State a response.

Finally, logic would dictate that existing local and state noise guidance criteria, in terms of industrial wind turbines, have demonstrated little effectiveness in Falmouth.  And based upon this fact, logic would further dictate, further reduction to a questionable public protection policy, could not conceivably be considered a “best” or “promising practice.”

The MassDEP and MassDPH must be made aware of the dilemma the Panel’s recommendations press upon the board and our community.  I urge the board to relay to the state that Panel recommendations are in conflict with the Falmouth Comprehensive Plan, as well as the Planning Board’s appropriate application of land use management.

Respectfully,

Mark J. Cool

Fire Tower Rd.

Falmouth, MA