Newburyport resident seeks responsible siting of windmills

June 22, 1:44 PMNorth Boston Political Buzz ExaminerGillian Swart

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Newburyport's wind turbine bugs some neighbors.

Lifelong Newburyport resident Patty Spalding is trying to get the attention of the Massachusetts legislature as it considers an amendment to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act.

Currently in committee, Senate bill No. 1504 (House bill 3065), would among other things establish a full-time position to provide technical assistance to communities on the siting of wind energy facilities.

The bill, which is being pushed through as an emergency, relates to electricity-generating facilities powered by wind energy that generate more than five megawatts of power. 

According to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the bill would:

• Include a municipal voice on the Energy Facilities Siting Board to ensure that the board considers any impacts on land-use planning and municipal development, as well as energy considerations
• Allow the development of a single-board process for the permitting of wind facilities, with the participation of a community’s land-use boards, to simplify the process while addressing community concerns
• Streamline and set time limits on state permit processes, to avoid projects being held up for years in state permitting or adjudicatory proceedings

Spalding is concerned that the public is being left out of the process - something that some residents say happened in Newburyport when a wind turbine was erected in the city's industrial park last year. The 292-foot, 600 kilowatt turbine was installed at Mark Richey Woodworking and looms over an adjacent residential neighborhood that is on a hill.

Residents living closest to the turbine have complained of flicker from the spinning blades, noise and the red beacon light atop the windmill. They claim they never saw it coming.

Although not opposed to wind energy, Spalding and others are in favor of responsible siting of wind energy facilities. Newburyport's City Council is studying amendments to its wind energy ordinance related to siting and notification to neighbors.

Spalding has written to State Rep. Michael Costello (D-Newburyport) and members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.