Questions & Answers from the February 9, 2007 Public Meeting:
· Q. Could the turbines be built one at a time so an assessment of the impact could be made?
A. Possible to build one, but multiple turbines create a more attractive and economically feasible option for a developer.
· Q. Will the taxpayers pay for the cost of this project?
A. No, development costs are funded through grants from MTC and the proposal contemplates that a private developer would fund the project.
· Q. Is Eastham moving too rapidly? Should the project be delayed until legislation that would allow direct use of the energy produced?
A. The committee will proceed at a pace that will allow all the required studies, assessments and approvals. There is no pressure to complete this project on a specific timetable. The committee has now voted to delay the RFP so that information from studies can be evaluated before an RFP is released. Part of the assessment will include the status and potential effect of proposed or pending legislation. Committee members acknowledged that pending legislation often takes years before it is enacted; Gwen agreed to contact Senator Robert O’Leary’s and Representative Sarah Peake’s offices to learn the status of proposed legislation and get an assessment of a time frame for their moving forward.
· Q. What is the actual cost of the Town’s annual energy bill?
A. The actual annual cost is more than $170,000 as has been indicated by the committee. Town Administrator Vanderhoef indicates that the $70,000 quoted by a member of the public at the Feb 9th meeting did not include all the facilities.
· Q. If the town needs money to pay its electric bill, why not just raise taxes?
A. The amount of the annual electric cost was used only to illustrate what could be done with the revenue from this project. It does not suggest that the Town does not have the funds in its budget to cover these costs. Town Meeting chooses the activities and funding sources for expenditures. The reason for proposing the wind turbines in Eastham is more than the revenue. The need for “Clean Energy” is well recognized and this is an opportunity for Eastham to contribute.
· Q. Will the latest MESA maps be used in the environmental studies?
A. Yes. A MESA analysis is being requested.
· Q. When was the wind turbine article approved?
A. At Town Meeting, May 2006. Article 25 in the Warrant stated
“To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Board of Selectmen for general
municipal purposes to the Board of Selectmen for general municipal purposes and for the purpose of leasing, a parcel of land containing (1) acres, located within the Town Zoning District “H” (water recharge district) and or within the limited business district (adjacent to the town/police/fire buildings), and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease said parcel(s) in accordance with bidding requirements in G.L. 30 B or other applicable legislation, for the purposes of erecting, maintaining and operating a wind turbine to generate electricity, together with a appurtenant easements for wires, pipes, conduits, and supporting structural elements, said lease to be for a term in excess of ten (ten) years and upon such terms as the Board of Selectmen deem appropriate.”
At the time of Annual Town Meeting in May 2006, the committee had just received the Black and Veatch report and had not had time to analyze it. Subsequently, the committee realized the economics and financial implications of just one turbine were limited, the location of one turbine at the Town Hall location was not practical because all of the energy produced by a turbine at that location could not be used and State laws prohibit municipalities from selling excess power to the grid. The committee determined that up to four turbines at the North Eastham town owned property would provide a financial benefit to the Town by, at the least, off setting the annual electric bills in the Town, estimated to be approximately $170,000. The committee returned to the Board of Selectmen with this
information in July 2006; the Board of Selectmen voted on July 18, 2006 to recommend that the Energy Committee proceed with a proposal for the development of up to four wind turbines in the North Eastham location. The committee has been moving forward in that direction, requesting funds from MTC for additional studies. The committee recognized that an additional vote of Town Meeting would be required because of the increased number.
· Q. Why doesn’t the Committees web site contain links to information and/or groups that oppose wind turbines?
The links listed were provided because they contain information that appears credible and objective. There are many web sites that could be added as links and there are many that can be accessed by anyone who wishes to explore the subject. The committee will review the current links and add to them to attempt to provide a broad resource of information for interested members of the public.
· Q. Could the turbines be built one at a time so an assessment of the impact could be made?
A. Possible to build one, but multiple turbines create a more attractive and economically feasible option for a developer.
· Q. Will the taxpayers pay for the cost of this project?
A. No, development costs are funded through grants from MTC and the proposal contemplates that a private developer would fund the project.
· Q. Is Eastham moving too rapidly? Should the project be delayed until legislation that would allow direct use of the energy produced?
A. The committee will proceed at a pace that will allow all the required studies, assessments and approvals. There is no pressure to complete this project on a specific timetable. The committee has now voted to delay the RFP so that information from studies can be evaluated before an RFP is released. Part of the assessment will include the status and potential effect of proposed or pending legislation. Committee members acknowledged that pending legislation often takes years before it is enacted; Gwen agreed to contact Senator Robert O’Leary’s and Representative Sarah Peake’s offices to learn the status of proposed legislation and get an assessment of a time frame for their moving forward.
· Q. What is the actual cost of the Town’s annual energy bill?
A. The actual annual cost is more than $170,000 as has been indicated by the committee. Town Administrator Vanderhoef indicates that the $70,000 quoted by a member of the public at the Feb 9th meeting did not include all the facilities.
· Q. If the town needs money to pay its electric bill, why not just raise taxes?
A. The amount of the annual electric cost was used only to illustrate what could be done with the revenue from this project. It does not suggest that the Town does not have the funds in its budget to cover these costs. Town Meeting chooses the activities and funding sources for expenditures. The reason for proposing the wind turbines in Eastham is more than the revenue. The need for “Clean Energy” is well recognized and this is an opportunity for Eastham to contribute.
· Q. Will the latest MESA maps be used in the environmental studies?
A. Yes. A MESA analysis is being requested.
· Q. When was the wind turbine article approved?
A. At Town Meeting, May 2006. Article 25 in the Warrant stated
“To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Board of Selectmen for general
municipal purposes to the Board of Selectmen for general municipal purposes and for the purpose of leasing, a parcel of land containing (1) acres, located within the Town Zoning District “H” (water recharge district) and or within the limited business district (adjacent to the town/police/fire buildings), and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to lease said parcel(s) in accordance with bidding requirements in G.L. 30 B or other applicable legislation, for the purposes of erecting, maintaining and operating a wind turbine to generate electricity, together with a appurtenant easements for wires, pipes, conduits, and supporting structural elements, said lease to be for a term in excess of ten (ten) years and upon such terms as the Board of Selectmen deem appropriate.”
At the time of Annual Town Meeting in May 2006, the committee had just received the Black and Veatch report and had not had time to analyze it. Subsequently, the committee realized the economics and financial implications of just one turbine were limited, the location of one turbine at the Town Hall location was not practical because all of the energy produced by a turbine at that location could not be used and State laws prohibit municipalities from selling excess power to the grid. The committee determined that up to four turbines at the North Eastham town owned property would provide a financial benefit to the Town by, at the least, off setting the annual electric bills in the Town, estimated to be approximately $170,000. The committee returned to the Board of Selectmen with this
information in July 2006; the Board of Selectmen voted on July 18, 2006 to recommend that the Energy Committee proceed with a proposal for the development of up to four wind turbines in the North Eastham location. The committee has been moving forward in that direction, requesting funds from MTC for additional studies. The committee recognized that an additional vote of Town Meeting would be required because of the increased number.
· Q. Why doesn’t the Committees web site contain links to information and/or groups that oppose wind turbines?
The links listed were provided because they contain information that appears credible and objective. There are many web sites that could be added as links and there are many that can be accessed by anyone who wishes to explore the subject. The committee will review the current links and add to them to attempt to provide a broad resource of information for interested members of the public.
· Studies Underway
Committee members determined that in addition to these answers above, we need to review reports already complete and the status of reports underway or to be scheduled and develop an overview statement that covers these. We also want to outline the additional reviews we intend to do with B&V and MTC to address the questions raised about the data or recommendations they have provided in the instances where it conflicts with the published standards or opinions provided by Wells and others, including the following:
Ø Setbacks
Ø Noise
Ø Flicker
Ø Safety (including ice throws, collapse, fire etc)
Ø Light pollution
Ø Environmental concerns (PCBs, endangered species, birds etc)
Ø Property value studies
· The committee determined the two following issues also need to be explored:
Ø Tree cutting/impact on natural barrier protection
Ø Eastham FD capability re tall structure fires. Jack said he had a preliminary conversation with the Fire Chief and that he would obtain a written statement from him.
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