The University of Massachusetts Renewable Energy Research Lab weighs in with this letter on Dr. Pierpoint's claims saying,
At the University of Massachusetts, we presented a white paper on the subject: (http://www.ceere.org/rerl/publications/whitepapers/Wind_Turbine_Acoustic_Noise_Rev2006.pdf) with its latest revision in 2006. Similar conclusions have been presented by a well-respected consulting firm in New York State- AWS Truewind. In no case do these reports support the conclusions of Dr. Pierpont or others holding similar views. We also note that this subject is a topic most used by wind turbine opponents, and that not all the information found on the Internet is reliable.
This letter from Massachusetts Maritime Academy states that there have been no complaints of noise from their wind turbine which is within 522 feet of the nearest residence in 18 months of operation. (more after the jump)
Hull's second wind turbine is much closer to residents than proposed in Dartmouth and is not shielded by trees. Below is an actual photo of that turbine.
Watch these videos of what the nearby residents have to say in Hull
Bernadette White 1
Bernadette White 2
Beth Parker
Hardly a nightmarish tale. In fact, Hull residents like their wind turbines and are proud of them. Here is a link to a children's book about Millie, the Hull wind turbine. The Hull Assessor says in this memo that Millie has not hurt property values.
This report from the Union of Concerned Scientists says,
“A national study of more than 25,000 real estate sales near wind farms across the country found no evidence of a negative impact on property values, and in some cases it even showed a positive effect. In the coastal community of Hull, MA, property sales near Hull Wind One since it began operating in January 2002 show increases in property value consistent with the rest of the town, according to local realtors. A long-standing real estate firm serving Hull and the neighboring towns of Cohasset and Hingham highlights Hull Wind One in its sales materials, touting the far-sighted thinking that the use of wind power represents, the stable electricity rates it provides, and the overwhelming town support for a second turbine, which was erected in 2006”
Once again I am sure that this information will not sway those who have already decided that these turbines are not suitable for our town. However if you have an open mind, I think all the above deserves consideration.
Posts
14 comments:
The Town of Dartmouth is using the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL) and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) studies to do the initial ground work for these two wind turbines . Both these agencies are part of the University of Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts is paid by these agencies to produce favorable studies and reports for the cities and towns of the SouthCoast ,in all cases negative information has been omitted from reports . The AEC chairman has an affiliation with UMass as do many people in Dartmouth .
The University of Dartmouth and these semi-quasi state agencies have an agenda to place these turbines in a populated area . They have been challenged in every town on the SouthCoast and Cape Cod.
The key to all these studies is not what is in them but what has been left out over and over again town after town ! The SB of Dartmouth is acting like puppets on a string ! Not the representatives of the town !
The University is not a supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred.
Having no argument against the facts, you claim that the demonstrable facts are to be rejected since they do not support your conclusion. As I said in a previous post, engineering is not an art. It does not depend on your opinion of the laws of mechanics, physics, and materials. It is the straightforward application of mathematics and those physical laws to reach predictive conclusions on the behavior of physical elements of a design. You don't have to take the word of UMass engineers. However, they have laid out the data and the methodology that they used to reach their conclusions. That conclusion can be reviewed and verified.
You say that information has been omitted. What information? Go look at the RERL study of the acoustics. Where have they made an error? Tell us!
I don't believe the engineers at UMass because they are divine. I listen to them because they are experts in their field of study. I listen because they present their conclusions in verifiable form for anyone to critique.
Will you require that same level of expertise from your sources and the same intellectual rigor from the evidence that you present?
good job Bill!!
There is a heavy weight of responsibility that goes with recommending things that may impact citizens health and their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes and property ... a responsibility I take very seriously as a member of the Fin Com.
Before recommending that this project go forward I, personally, had to be absolutely sure there were no serious effects, perceived or real.
Placing absolutely no confidence in University studies or other 'experts' I took the time to drive over to neighborhoods immediately around the two Portsmith, R.I wind turbines. I randomly stopped to talk with people outside in their yards and even knocked on a few doors to ask the question, " How do you feel about that" - pointing to the huge turbine looming over us.
The sampling ranged from middle age to very senior. To a person, they all said they have nothing bad to say about it. They all admitted to hearing a gentle "woosh.... woosh ... woosh, as it turns , never audible inside their homes and quickly ignored outside. "I get more noise from Rt# 24 than we do from that thing " said one elderly couple. Another suggested that it was the ideal neighbor - no barking dogs or noisy kids with cars.
One man living in the shadow of the Postsmouth Abbey machine had nothing to complain about but did express the concern that multiple safegards are necessary to insure the unit does not over speed and fly apart. This man was not at all convinced of global warming either.
They all cited the money it saves their town. I asked all about flicker. It was mentioned by only one couple who said it lasts but a few minutes very early in the morning and moves away very quickly as the sun rises.
I asked if any of their neighbors had complaints. The only examples given were either "..chronic complainers.." who " complain about everything" or another who expected to get a tax break because of the money saved by the generator.
Frankly I had expected at least some to be upset - surprisingly I found none in my random survey.
That said I can see where aesthetics, and even the gentle woosh .. woosh... woosh, might be objectionable to some and that is fair enough. After all, it is your property and your life. But from a purely technical, fiscal and quality-of-life point of view, I am convinced that this is a good and worthwhile project for Dartmouth with no demonstrable harmful effects to those living near by.
The town has only looked for proponents of wind turbines ! This is not the cash cow you think it is !
As the governor said : This is being jammed down your throats !
Good luck at the one sided meeting tonight !
Please go to this web site before tonight's meeting educate yourself . The SB and AEC have made up their minds months ago .
Also what is the financial status of the wind turbine company AAER ?
The purpose of Stopillwind is to provide evidence exposing the limitations of wind technology.
Copy and paste this to your browser :
Stopillwind.org
Stopillwind.org
Stopillwind.org
If you follow the link provided by frank1, you will find a site of one individual who makes many spurious and misleading claims. Frank1 thinks that the StopIll Wind site provides "evidence". I have looked it over and find no evidence at all. Every claim is completely unsupported by data or reference. One such claim is wind power will not supplant fossil fuel plants. That statement is at least partially true. Due to the intermittent nature of wind generation, fossil fuel plants will still be needed for those periods when the wind is not blowing. However, energy that is generated by wind turbines when the wind does blow will reduce the output of fossil fuel plants and thus the amount of fossil fuels burned at those plants. That is an undeniable fact. Denmark generates 1/3 of their electrical energy needs from wind turbines.
Another claim made at this website is not at all applicable to the Dartmouth case. The website claims that the "primary purpose is to provide extraordinary tax and income sheltering opportunities for a few wealthy investors at the expense of average taxpayers and rate payers". The Town of Dartmouth will own and operate these wind turbines. Any and all savings and revenue, including Renewable Energy Credits, will be to the benefit if the town and its residents.
To frank1, I don't know the financial status of AAER. What does that have to do with our wind turbine project?
Bill , The Application for Special Permit (9.7 MB)cannot be opened for some reason.
The application did show that Atlantic Design Engineering had used AAER in the permit as the turbine supplier .
A Vestas V-82 would be much more money if available
What link is it specifically that you are having trouble with? I don't have a link in this post to the file so in what post is the faulty link?
In order to evaluate a project, some published data must be used. Among the data used by ADE was that for the AAER turbine. That data was used for analysis purposes and does not mean that only an AAER turbine can be purchased or will perform similarly. Many companies make equivalently sized machines.
We don't know the cost precisely as we have never put out a request for proposal or received bids. The costs of the turbines from the manufacturers are not widely different. They are, after all, competing against each other for the business.
One word for the presentation on these turbines "obfuscation"
Nice fact-based analysis of a presentation that has not even been presented yet. Thanks for having an open mind and considering all the facts.
Greg Lynam of the Fin Com has a calm and reasoned analysis of the project.
To Greg Lynam
Greg, as it relates to all the wind turbine concern, I thank you for admitting to not having enough convincing knowledge, and taking the extra miles to find out for yourself. As you note, you want to be absolutely clear and informed, before making a recommendation. Once again, as it relates to personal contacts with people who live within close proximity to the wind turbine, you have convinced this skeptic that Dartmouth is on the right track.
Also, I believe you have been a great asset to the fincom and wish you will consider running for a position on the select board.
This unsolicited comment has nothing to do with wind turbines, but I would like to hear your response. As it relates to hiring town department head leadership from outside of our town, would you agree that it is just as important to make an effort to visit the city/town from where a person is denied employment.
Your post, indicates that you took the time to make a personal touch with people who live next to a wind turbine. You were able to get personal and correct answers to turbine related issues. Would it not be as important to have made a personal visit to the Marshfield, to gather a better understanding as to the true nature for not reappointing Mr. Crestman, as town executive administrator?
This is not intended to discredit Mr. Crest man, but as the town SB continues the process of searching for outsiders to be considered for town department leadership, how can we be sure of the candidates, unless you travel the extra miles and speak with the folks who know the most?
Once again, I wish to thank you for watching over our town. Dartmouth is in need of more people who care about getting it right, before making a recommendation
Dear December 10, 2009 6:26 AM,
Thank you for your kind words.
The Fin Com has no role in selecting personnel but one of our own, Mary Louise Nunes was on the selection committee. Through her the Fin Com did express its desire for certain attributes in the next Executive Administrator. Those attributes were indeed sought and from all indications were acquired by hiring Mr. Cressman. We are already seeing great movement in areas that have stagnated for years, so I have great confidence we are on the right track. That said, yes, you are right. Had it been me I would have traveled to find out for myself, and in all fairness I do not know that this was not done. I do know that many people were consulted familiar with his work there and not a one had anything but praise for his abilities.
In a letter to the editor at the time of Mr. Gagne’s troubles I said that I had great respect for Mike ..... and I really do. When anyone is in ‘a’ position for any length of time they grow stale, that goes for everyone you and me alike. But especially management where you develop relationships with the people you work with and depend upon day in and day out for years. Those relationships can not help but to color your decisions or prevent you from making decisions that need to be made, this is only human nature. It is also human nature for those who benefit from those relationships to want to hold on to them.
Periodically you just need to bring in someone else with fresh eyes and ideas. Mike will bring new ways of doing things to Mattapopisett that they never considered and Mr. Cressman will do the same for Dartmouth just as the ‘new guy’ will do the same for Marshfield. The same holds true for the Police Chief, Library director and other positions coming up.
To keep moving forward you have to periodically seek out new ideas and ways of doing things, be it a company or a municipality. The fact that a community might want to go in a different direction, does not necessarily reflect badly on the leadership, just that a change is needed to get out of a rut. That said, yes ... one has to do ones homework to get the best person for the job. I am satisfied that the Select Board is doing just that.
Post a Comment