Wind: Power or Problem?

      Wind energy has always generated controversy in Massachusetts and tomorrow Falmouth may become one of the first communties in the country to have its wind turbines decommissioned.  The Town of Falmouth, in a ballot question, is asking residents to override tax limits to raise the funds to pay back funds/grants used to build Wind I and II so it is free to tear down the turbines. 

     Question 2 on the ballot reads as follows:  Shall the Town of Falmouth be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to pay costs of (a) decommissioning, dismantling and removing Wind I and Wind II, repaying grants received on account of such wind turbines, and for the payment of all other costs incidental and related thereto, and (b) originally constructing Wind I, including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto? 

 

     In August of 2011 Governor Deval Patrick signed S. 2395 committing Massachusetts to a goal of installing 2,000 megawatts of wind energy before 2020. How much wind energy would be lost with the removal of the turbines and what this means for the Governor’s objective will be watched carefully by other communities who have similar complaints about noise and health issues in connection with operating wind turbines.

Update: Town votes for power.