How we got here
Not being much of an activist... it is somewhat odd to find myself, along with a group, defending The Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet against road building and clearing of trees to erect an 400 industrial wind turbine by the very people I would have guessed to be its most ardent supporters of nature. The founding legislation protected this stunning land by the sea for over 45 years, is now the time to give up and use it for some other purpose? Parks are few and special so lets not use them as an industrial commodity.
It appears that both the Wellfeet Energy Commission and the stewards of the seashore are indulging in the idea of building large 400 foot Wind Turbines in the middle of a National Park! Winning by only 17 votes, the town has allocated $290,000 dollars, so this isn't just some fanciful idea.
Dependent on the various reimbursements from the electric company, state and federal programs, the project will cost more than $5,000,000 and generate less than 30% of the 1.65 Mega Watts they claim. The "hope" is to make this back over time with reimbursements. If the reimbursement shrink,the turbine is damaged, destroyed or court case forces it to be taken it down...how is this LARGE amount of money going to be payed, who will pay the clean up costs. The potential income from the turbine seemed to be emphasized over full disclosure of the inherent risks. Many people were led to believe that not only would it be environmental friendly, it would be out of sight and easy money. The 400 foot tower will be viewable from not only much of Wellfleet but much of the Cape and well out to sea. This will be the second highest object on Cape Cod. The wind turbine manufactures projects sound levels of a helicopter. At sunset and sunrise there will be a flicker as the blades pass the sun for anyone due east or west, possibly even on the beaches near sunset.
The town of Wellfleet was entrusted with certain areas of the protected Seashore for limited municipal uses. As far as we are aware, they have proposed two uses for this pristine area: 1) A garbage dump abutting the Seashore. That was summarily STOPPED! 2) They now propose to save the world by building wind turbines on this land that was entrusted to them. It is about 1/2 mile from the beaches.
We are fine with them saving the world; it is just the location that is wrong. If this idea is so wonderful and cost effective why don't they buy some property somewhere like Boston Harbor or another industrial area away from a National Park where there is some wind and voila....same income, same towers, same good feeling. Saving the world or one's own town should not involve the destruction of this special place.
It appears the town and Mr Price the CCNS Superintendent don't recognize the value of this land...it is left up to us to tell them to leave this area alone. Mr Price brags about a Wind Turbine he help to build in Hull, MA...he doesn't mention it is under the landing pattern for Logan Airport. We wish to keep one of the last unspoiled spots on the east coast just that...unspoiled. Having more turbines, less turbines, shorter or taller, doesn't make having industrial towers in a park acceptable! So we call upon you to contact anyone and everyone you know, to contact the National Seashore, your state and federal representatives and the town of Wellfleet to STOP them from constructing Wind Turbines in the "NATIONAL SEASHORE"!
Barry Doyle
February 16th, 2010 - 20:32
Well Barry- Your friends and neighbors in Eastham are with you in your battle. We fought the turbines at the High school but we must be considered the “Stupid folk” cause after being told they were NOT going to be building the turbines we have found out (article in the CC Times) that they are looking to build on Town property that is IN the Seashore. Just does not stop. People have belief that they have a say in what happens to their town and their National Park but it seems like we are all being played for fools. I think if the Seashore is restricting the homeowners in the park (Eastham Residents) and there is NO improvement allowed and no changes can be made or your home will be condemed then they need to practice the same rules. We receive a letter from the principle of the school and then not even 3 days later he is meeting with the town and wants to get the 250 foot turbine up right away because the company that builds them is offering 100 percent of the cost. Come ON! Who are we kidding here. Here is the letter sent to us- read for yourself :
I am sorry for inaccuracies with the wind turbine article on 2/8/10 in the Cape Cod Times. I and the Nauset School District heard the voter’s wishes at last spring’s town meeting by the approved Zoning Articles related to wind turbines. Our campus is now located in an area which has a height restriction of 75 feet. We have no desire to request any wind turbine which would exceed that requirement. We are still interested in pursuing a turbine 75 feet or less in height for our campus. The turbine committee I referred to in my comments was the school’s turbine committee which has been in place for three years. The reporter was mistaken in reporting that it was the town’s turbine committee.
It is my understanding that there is a town parcel of land (Assessor’s Map 24 Parcel 29) consisting of 123 acres plus or minus that does allow a 250 foot turbine as approved by the voters at last spring’s town meeting. The reporter once again misreported the lot size I discussed with the School Committee.
As the article reported, we are only exploring the possibility for a wind turbine on town owned land.
Tom Conrad