Could wind energy be coming to Ashfield?
Resident Andrew Wells, of Bailey Road, appeared before the Select Board yesterday morning to encourage them to craft a letter opposing a bill that is soon coming up for vote in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Wells said that H.4687, the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act, would allow the state to override local laws regarding the siting of wind turbines. The act also limits a town’s ability to appeal state decisions.
Wells also said that there is a wind developer looking into leasing property on Ridge Hill for wind development.
Select Board member Norm Russell agreed to look into the matter and craft a letter that will be discussed at the next Select Board meeting.
David King
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Is Big Wind Coming To Town?
ReplyDeleteWith the approval of the giant wind complex in Nantucket Sound and the Patrick Administration's plan to locate over 1,000 wind turbines in the Berkshires, there is a strong likelihood that large scale wind energy development may be coming to our area. As a concept, wind is appealing "green energy" that most people support. But in practice, a large scale wind energy facility is basically an industrial complex with significant environmental and community impacts, especially on sensitive hilltops and ridgelines in the hills of New England.
When it comes to wind, most people think of small, quaint "windmills" in friendly "wind farms". But most modern wind turbines are very large - some over 400' in height - as tall as a 40 story building or four times as tall as the town hall steeple. They can cause major environmental damage and have a significant impact on the character of rural communities. Wind turbine facilities are usually located on high ridges and hilltops and require wide service roads and transmission lines to be cut through some of our region's most sensitive land.
When operating wind turbines often make a constant, low noise that can be heard for a considerable distance and can create a "shadow/flicker" effect like a strobe light when the sun shines through the blades. At night, the turbines are lit by flashing red lights, impacting the darkness and clarity of the night sky. Building the turbines is like building a large industrial facility on the top of hills and ridges and would require transporting equipment almost 200' in length along our narrow rural roads, requiring widening of the roads and clearing of trees, stonewalls and buildings. Building these large towers and service roads along ridgelines and hilltops can impact wildlife habitat, hunting areas and the spinning blades can affect migrating birds.
The state legislature is about to vote on a bill which would "expedite" approval for large wind energy projects, essentially taking away local control over these projects and putting it in the hands of a state commission more favorable to wind energy. Environmental review of wind projects would also be "streamlined" meaning that wind projects would be able to bypass standard environmental reviews. This means that a town will lose most control over the construction of these huge energy facilities to the state. This could happen in Ashfield. The town should be ready - a wind turbine complex could be by far the largest, most visible, most impacting project in the town's history.
Harry Dodson