While currently suing the town, claiming that the process for granting Special Permits for municipal wind turbines is flawed, Ms. Nesto now wants the process retained. This is a link to her letter to the editor in the Standard Times. Isn't it ironic,...
...don't you think?
Her assertion that there are many possible sites for wind turbines is just not correct.
The municipal wind turbine bylaw being proposed requires the installations to meet all the conditions of the commercial wind turbine bylaw. The residential and commercial wind turbine bylaws will remain unchanged.
No, really, what do you think? Tell us in comments.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Can you spell IRONY?
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10 comments:
As I watch the coverage on the tragic oil spill, I am more convinced that we need clean energy. Wind power and solar, so we can rid ourselves of our addiction to OIL. Dead fish, pelicans, beautiful beaches turning black, etc. etc. etc.
I hope town mtg. will vote in favor of this article.
I agree with the first post. I'm in favor of wind energy, natural gas, eclectic motors for auto's, and clean energy. I also wish I owned a large parcel of land that has billions of gallons of oil just waiting to be pumped, I could use the money. Catastrophic incidents are going to occur no matter what we do. BP didn't intentionally rip apart so that all that oil would surface and cause such a problem. It's one of those things that happens. Airplanes fall out of the sky, but people still fly. Over 40 thousand Americans die in auto accidents each year, but we still drive. We have large nuclear bombs stuck inside silows just waiting to be touched off that will kill millions of people in a short period of time, but we still have them in silows. We have subs that carry enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world in 20 minutes, but the world is still spinning. We can live with out all the above mentioned except we need the oil, or everything comes to a complete stop. Go figure.
anon 5:15.. Please explain how wind turbines in town help power your car and get rid of your addicion to oil.
...ride a bike instead.
Bill, please don't sink to the level of the wind turbine supporters who have no difficulty mocking Ms. Nesto and her Chase Rd. neighbors because of their opposition to the location of wind turbines in such close proximity to their homes. We both know that even some prominent supporters have done just that, resorting to such low tactics in an attempt to sway support for their position. I would hope you would rise above their level.
Regardless of whether or not you believe the issues of health, safety, shadow/flicker and noise are "rational" or "irrational" issues for their concern, Ms. Nesto and her Chase Rd. neighbors are entitled to the same courtesy and respect as the rest of us who do not at this time have to face living under the shadow of behemoth wind turbines.
I do not see Ms. Nesto's letter as "supportive" of the current Town bylaw on wind turbines, so I fail to see how you claim her letter is "ironic." I DO see her letter as an attempt to not make the situation worse by allowing the bylaws to be modified to the degree that significantly eases the process and procedures necessary for the installation of wind turbines, and to spare her fellow Dartmouth residents the same consequence she and her neighbors are facing.
First, I called it ironic that she is calling for no modification of a process which she claims is flawed. Specifically, I mean the requirement to have the Select Board issue a special permit which is the basis of the suit. Second, by near proximity, you mean hundreds of feet away into the woods.Third, I made some factual observations and stated my position. Where have I not shown courtesy and respect? Fourth, there is no reason to believe these turbines will have a serious impact on those living on Chase Road or anywhere else in town.
Where is all this land in Dartmouth where wind turbines can be placed? We have an airport that limits many parcels and we still have to follow restrictions with regard to setbacks, etc.
This bylaw will help the town go forward with this project, something town meeting voted for in the past. I'm not afraid of wind farms in Dartmouth. I think this project was well thought out and should go forward. I hope town meeting votes for this bylaw so that we can more forward. I respect those who are against it, but many projects in town have residents who oppose them. This is for the greater good.
Let's let town meeting decide. Town meeting has listened to this issue for 6 plus years. This bylaw is about wind turbines on town owned property only. Those against, can't have it both ways, they say they are against the permit process and then say they are against getting rid of the process. This is one tiny step in stopping our addiction to OIL.
Bill,
You said : The municipal wind turbine bylaw being proposed requires the installations to meet all the conditions of the commercial wind turbine bylaw
No, really ..... not even close.
Zoning Articles are complex with many unintended consequences. The Select Board's intent here is pure, but it behooves us to read zoning bylaws very carefully not only for what they say, but for what they do not say.
Article # 21 asks us to do three things :
1st: Amend the Residential Wind Turbine bylaw [ 33.100 ] to define the term " Municipal WECF " and then to remove "Municipal WECF" from the restrictions of Residential WECF bylaw 33.100
2nd: Amend the Commercial Wind Turbine bylaw [ 34.100 ] to define the term " Municipal WECF " and then to remove "Municipal WECF" from the restrictions of Commercial WECF bylaw 34.100
At this point we have defined a new entity called the "Municipal WECF" and exempted it from ALL zoning regulation but for the Town's general zoning height limit of 35 FT.
3rd: Insert a NEW bylaw [ Section 35.100 ] to regulate the newly defined " Municipal WECF" and sets the allowed height at 330 Ft..
This new bylaw resembles the Residential and Commercial WECF bylaws but leaves out some very important protections contained in them.
Missing are the following:
XX.402 Visual Impact : The applicant shall minimize any impact on the visual character of surrounding neighborhoods ...
XX.405 Noise : The WECF shall conform to Massachusetts noise regulation 310 CMR 7.10
XX.407 Land Clearing/Open Space/Rare Species
XX.409 Shadowing/Flicker
XX.411 Use by Telecommunications Carriers
XX.412 Underground Utilities : All electrical connections from the WECF, including any associated substations, to either the point of use for the electricity or to the grid shall be made via underground conduits.
XX.801 Technical Research Group (TRG) : The SPGA shall designate a Technical Research Group (TRG) composed of five (5) members: (1) a Town Engineer (DPW), (2) a member of the Town Planning Board, (3) a member of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals, (4) a member of the Town Alternative Energy Committee, and (5) a member-at-large.
XX.806 The TRG shall make a formal recommendation to the SPGA regarding each application. A positive recommendation from the TRG shall require four (4) affirmative votes of the TRG. All matters before the TRG shall be decided by four (4) votes.
... and more.
This bylaw change does not just eliminate the "Special Permit" requirement, it is the elimination of all the protections incorporated into the original bylaws designed to give thoughtful consideration to citizens concerns, property values and quality of life. In short, it stuffs a rag into the mouths of anyone who might object.
It goes on to add new provisions giving the town the right not only to build upon town owned land but to lease land from farmers or other individuals and encourage private for-profit companies to construct and own WECF facilities on those lands [ 35.200 ] " ... allowed as of right in all districts of the town. " [35.300]
.... so yes, there are many possible sites for wind turbines. There may be one coming soon, to a corn field near you :)
Greg Lynam
Fin Com
maybe its time we give up on alternative energy and just keep doing what we've been doing. Doesn't seem that anyone is happy with alternative energy so why waste the towns time?
Happy to read that this bylaw passed. Now the town can move forward. Thank you to all those who worked for years on this project!
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