But three of the turbines have come at a cost. Residents living near the wind turbines in Scituate and Kingston have complained from the beginning about noise and the flicker of light and shadow when the sun is behind the turbine. A wind turbine in Hanover has had costly maintenance issues that have forced it to shut down frequently.

Impact on People Massachusetts

Several residents living near the turbine continued to report disturbances from the turbine, however, and asked town officials to agree to an independent noise compliance investigation of the turbine in an effort to collect the evidence necessary to take protective action under both the Nuisance Law and under the state’s Noise Pollution Regulation.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

David Dardi, who lives near the turbine and who had been keeping track of the turbine noise, said the turbine continued to “disrupt the sleep and adversely impact the lives and health of both my neighbors and myself.” ...Selectman Karen Canfield said she would support to curtail the use of the turbine from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the summer.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

If the power being generated causes health impacts; is that trade-off worth reducing your collective carbon footprint? Is it better to cause huge health issues to some folks so others can smugly say their power is "green"? And why is hurting folks with windmills to power your Tesla and Wi-fi OK, but cutting a thousand trees down in a state forest along an existing right of way is not OK?

Impact on People Massachusetts

Residents in Scituate who live near a wind turbine claim it's ruining the quality of their lives. Many say the wind turbine is causing nausea, dizziness, ringing in ears and sleep deprivation and they want it shut down for good. 

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

Acting Town Administrator Al Bangert said they agreed to shut down the turbine during the hours of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. when the wind blows from the southwest. ...Officials said since then, complaints have dropped more than 60 percent. But there has been a financial cost as well. Bangert is forecasting a financial loss of more than $100,000 per year whenever the blades power down.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

In 2015, the town conducted a study and found that complaints from residents were most common during the summer between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., when the wind was less than 10 mph and blowing in a southwest direction. During the last two summers, between June and October, the town has shut down the turbine when those conditions are met.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

The bylaw change needs to win a two-thirds majority at Wednesday's meeting. The session will be run by Moderator Erik Krutiak. To advance its case, the Minuteman Wind project mailed a brochure to town residents. It was countered by another mailing from wind power opponents. 

Impact on People Massachusetts

A Florida, Massachusetts resident died Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at his home. The resident was unable to leave the property he loved. Wind development destroyed his peace and tranquility.  His suicide should have been prevented if the DEP, BOH AG, governor, ... intervened to protect public health. He was tormented by the wind turbine demons: audible and inaudible (infra-sound). 

Impact on People Massachusetts

Residents of Savoy have the opportunity to save themselves from this same peril (most likely worse, with five much larger turbines), during the upcoming turbine hearing on Sept. 24. One hearing. One night. Make the right decision.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts

Residents said they feared the 500-foot tall turbines would adversely affect the aviation tradition on the lake, culminating every fall with the Greenville Fly-in. “There’s a lot at stake,” McDonald told the group. “The view and the wilderness experience. There’s a future at stake if you want to develop tourism in the area, the turbines pose a serious threat to the region.”

Impact on Landscape Impact on Views Impact on People Maine Massachusetts

But the recent development in Falmouth, where a judge ordered the town’s two wind turbines at the municipal wastewater facility to be powered down because they constitute a nuisance, is a positive development. “It’s definitely a ray of hope for us,” said Ian Davies of Plymouth, a neighbor of the turbines. Davies was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by a group of private citizens against Future Generation Wind and the town of Bourne.

Impact on People Massachusetts

The Falmouth Board of Selectmen voted Monday night not to appeal a judge’s decision ordering the shutdown of the town’s two massive wind turbines. “It’s time to put the matter behind us and move forward,” board Chairwoman Susan Moran said.

Impact on People Legal Massachusetts

As Falmouth selectmen consider challenging a cease-and-desist order that left the community’s second wind turbine inoperable, they are taking into account all legal action surrounding the town-owned machines near Blacksmith Shop Road.

Impact on People Legal Massachusetts

Falmouth Board of Selectmen halted operation of the town’s second wind turbine Tuesday, June 20, after a Barnstable County Superior Court judge deemed the town-owned power source a nuisance.

Impact on People Legal Massachusetts

In this important ruling issued by Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty II, the court ordered that the decision of the Falmouth MA Zoning Board of Appeals be affirmed to the extent that the operation of Wind 1 and Wind 2 constitute a nuisance and that the Town of Falmouth cease and desist operation of the wind turbines immediately. The full order can be accessed by clicking the document icon located on this page.  

Legal Impact on People Massachusetts

A Barnstable Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered the town of Falmouth to shut down two town-owned wind turbines. ...In an emergency meeting Tuesday night, selectmen instructed the town manager to comply with Moriarty’s order.

Impact on People Legal Massachusetts

Despite the 2013 Wind Turbine Bylaw prohibiting the existing turbine structures, and the zoning board’s 2016 permit denial for one of the turbines, I think town hall and wind turbine neighbors are destined to do this forever. Exposing perhaps the real victim in this David and Goliath paradox – Falmouth itself.

Impact on People Massachusetts

The Eagle editorial's implication that NIMBYism must not stand in the way of saving the planet is as irrational as it is unfounded. The hard-working politicians and administrators in the East have neither wind nor ridges in their backyards, so they pontificate to us out here in the Berkshires that we must (must!) accept wind turbines on every ridge if they say so. Or else.

Impact on People Massachusetts

"[Police] Officer confirmed that turbine noise in bedroom was excessive," the officer reported, but because the noise was coming from Plymouth, Plymouth police were called. Plymouth police told them to call the board of health, which passed the call along to the building inspector.

Impact on People Noise Massachusetts