Massachusetts Giving Home Rule To Foreign Wind Turbine Companies

“The Wall Street Journal published a scathing editorial on the experience of Falmouth, Massachusetts, which spent $10 million on wind turbines, and it’s been a disaster.” Now the state wants to end home rule. Your local bylaws health, safety, and livelihood.

Massachusetts state officials wants to save the save the ocean wind turbine companies money placing the electric cables in the shortest shallowest locations possible despite local concerns.

Falmouth, Massachusetts is ground zero for the worst siting of commercial wind turbines in the United States and still the Massachusetts legislature and governor continues to ignore health and safety for an agenda gone horribly wrong.

The Home Rule Amendment–Article 89 of the state Constitution–says that its purpose is to “grant and confirm to the people of every city and town the right of self-governance in local matters.”

Massachusetts towns were established during the British colonial period, long before the existence of an independent United States. The Massachusetts Constitution was written before the end of the American Revolution. This constitution re-established the relationship between the state government and the towns which were originally specified by the charter which was granted to the Massachusetts Bay Company by King Charles I in 1629.

The ocean wind turbine company has petitioned the Mass Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) to grant them a composite approval on all open state/local permit requests.
There are several permits they must still obtain before they can go forward with two 220,000 volt high voltage cables in state and local waters.

A permit denied by the Town of Edgartown Conservation Commission to place two cables in Musket Channel
A cable connector at Covell’s Beach, Centerville and neighborhood roads and six-acre substation in Hyannis.

If granted, this composite permit would cancel their requirement to pursue permit approvals the good old fashion way like you and I would need to do. The composite permit would also wipe out our rights to appeal these specific permits!

Click here to read the attached public Notice. This describes the hearing process for the composite permit. Presiding Officer, Kathryn Sedor confirmed concerned persons have the following options for their voice to be heard in this process.

ROLE OPTIONS:

1. File a Petition to Intervene – this role is likely for an abutter of the area impacted- deadline to request this status is 9/16/19
2. Request to be a Limited Participant – this role is for anyone with concerns and may take more time than writing a letter- deadline to request this status is 9/16/19
3. Submit Comments on the project – anyone with concerns can write a letter stating their concerns. Letters can be submitted now through the final decision – deadline 10/16/19

ACTION NEEDED FROM YOU:
1. Write a letter:

• Click Here to use the Letter Template we created for you to use as a starting point (fill in bold areas). We urge all of you to please submit comments to the hearing. If you are requesting to Intervene or Limited Participant you will need to specify in the letter. Deadlines are noted above based on role.
• Visit www.preservecovellsbeach.com to read our concerns.

2. Mail and Email your letter

• Hard copy of letter mailed to: M. Kathryn Sedor, Presiding Officer Energy Facilities Siting Board One South Station Boston, Massachusetts 02110
• Hard copy “cc” of letter mailed to Vineyard Wind counsel: Adam P. Kahn, Esq. and Zachary Gerson, Esq., Foley Hoag LLP, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA 02210
• Email copy of letter as an attachment to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, and Kathryn.Sedor@mass.gov and to Vineyard Wind Counsel to Mr. Kahn and Mr. Gerson, at akahn@foleyhoag.com and zgerson@foleyhoag.com
• Both the letter and the body of the email must include:
  • • The docket number of the proceeding (EFSB 19-05)
    • Your name or entity submitting the letter/request
    • The name, title, telephone number, and e-mail address of a person to contact in the event of questions
    • A brief description of the document (for email).

3. Attendance of the hearing is also open to the public – dates are 10/15/19 and 10/16/19 beginning at 10:00 am in Hearing Room A at the offices of the Energy Facilities Siting Board, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110.