Welcome To The Cape & Islands Wind 
Information Network
Please send us an email at ciwininfo@gmail.com to join the Cape and Islands Wind Information Network!
For a LIST of Massachusetts COMMISSIONED LAND-BASED TURBINES, click here
The next Massachusetts Wind Working Group meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 30th, from
2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Emerging Enterprise Center at Foley-Hoag at 1000 Winter St., Suite 4000, in Waltham.
(For directions: http://www.foleyhoag.com/TheFirm/Offices/Emerging%20Enterprise%20Center%20at%20Foley%20Hoag.aspx)
The meeting will feature a panel on Offshore Wind. Speakers and topics include:
Fara Courtney, Executive Director, US Offshore Wind Collaborative: General intro. and background re. offshore wind in New England region
Bill White,Director of Offshore Wind, Mass. Clean Energy Center: MA and RI/MA Wind Energy Areas – general description of the areas; status of planning, leasing and environmental assessment activities; New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal
Mark Rogers, Communications Director, Cape Wind: Cape Wind update and next steps
Adam Wade, Associate, Foley-Hoag, LLP: Long term contracting for power
Jim Manwell, Director, UMass Amherst Wind Energy Center: Design standards
Bryan Lin, Technical Sales Manager, Siemens Energy, Inc.: Trends in offshore wind turbine technology
Joel Whitman, formerly of Global Marine Energy : Transmission challenges
Please RSVP to lally@ecs.umass.edu
If you would like to make an announcement at the meeting regarding upcoming events, please send to nbolgen@masscec.com
PLEASE PASS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED
NEW VIDEO AVAILABLE! CLICK HERE TO VIEW
"Digging into the 2012 DEP/DPH report 'Wind Turbine Health Impact Study' with expert Dr. Robert McCunney"
On May 1, 2012, two 1.5MW turbines began producing power in the town of Fairhaven, MA. Complaints have been lodged.
On December 29, 2012, three municipal-sized turbines in the town of Kingston were commissioned. Compalints have been lodged.
In March 2012, two Vestas V82 1.65MW turbines began producing power at Mt. Wachusett Community College. Neighbors live within 1,500 feet. No complaints lodged.
IMPORTANT UPDATES:
State environmental officials have found unacceptable noise levels from the Falmouth 1 wind turbine in Falmouth MA. Based on the study described below and this test result, officials are considering new regulations that would require the state to better review potential noise issues before wind turbines are built in Massachusetts. To read more on this click here.
In January 2012 an independent panel of experts studying potential health impacts of wind turbines issued a report, Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of the Independent Expert Panel. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) convened the panel in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The panel was composed of physicians and scientists with broad expertise in areas including acoustical noise/infrasound, public health, sleep disturbance, mechanical engineering, epidemiology, and neuroscience. Three public meetings on the report were held in February as part of a 60-day comment period.
The Cape Cod Commission has ruled against the New Generation Wind project to be located on a gravel pit in Bourne. Read the letter here from the state's Secretary of the office of Energy and Environment, Richard Sullivan, cosigned by DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia, and DEP Commissioner Ken Kimmell. The letter cautions that the Commission may be overstepping its jurisdiction by presuming to deny an energy resource and questions the Committee's benefits vs needs analysis.
The December 7th New England Wind Energy Education Program's Webinar Titled: Wind Power as a Neighbor: Experience with Techniques for Mitigating Public Impacts: A NEWEEP Webinar can be viewed by clicking on the title. Hear from experts on wind's fit into neighborhoods and how changes to blade design and production curtailment avoid impacts on neighbors.
The movies from the June 28th Wind Forum, "Another Side of the Wind Story" are now available. Part 1:
Part 1 of "Another Side of the Wind Story" CIWIN Forum on wind from June 28th, 2011 from Liz Argo on Vimeo.
Go to the Movies page to view parts 2 & 3 of the wind forum.
Click Here to download the Power Point presentation from the 6/28 Wind Forum advertised in the flyer below.
Information on Assembly of Delegates and Cape Cod Commission's Minimum Performance Standards for Wind:
The Assembly of Delegates passed the Minimum Performance Standards (MPS) for wind as presented by the Cape Cod Commission in mid-April 2011. However, the Assembly asked for the threshold height to be revised upwards from the 65 foot height that was presented.
In addition to revising the threshold, the Cape Cod Commission will get to work crafting the Technical Bulletin which will give the MPS true relevancy to wind siting decisions. It is in the Technical Bulletin that the definitions and numerical thresholds will reside. A citizens task force will be assembled to assist the CCC in creating the Technical Bulletin.
BREWSTER WIND PROJECT
After a call for a vote during the Brewster Planning Board special permit review, the Board found it was evenly split on the project. With the lack of a definitive answer from the Planning Board, the Brewster Selectboard decided to ask the voters whether to continue in negotiations with the Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) for the turbines, and placed Article 5 on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Brewster voters failed to give Article 5 the super majority vote it needed by 25 votes. This project is on hold while the feasibility of installing photovoltaics in place of the wind project is examined.
Read the Cape Cod Times Editorial from February 16th titled: "A Greener Brewster", on the two 1.8 Megawatt turbines proposed for Freeman's Way Industrial Park. To read: click here.
MOVIES MOUNTED!
INTERVIEWS with neighbors of Hull II 1.8MW turbine and neighbors of Portsmouth 1.5MW turbine. CLICK HERE
Presentation of Falmouth 1.65MW Turbine SOUND STUDIES Results. CLICK HERE
CIWIN Mission Statement:
“The Cape and Islands Wind Information Network” researches and collects science-based data and community experiences applicable to site-specific wind energy installations on Cape Cod and the Islands, communicating and sharing this information to create an educated citizenry.
Listen to the Cape Cod Sunday Journal Radio Interview recorded on 6/8/10: Cape and Islands Wind Information Network
The Cape & Islands Wind Information Network (CIWIN) is a group of residents, business owners, and civic leaders who represent the voice of the many Cape Cod and Island citizens who encourage the continued careful and considerate review of municipal and private wind installations. Hull, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, RI have added new turbines based on the success of their first turbine experience. With positive reports coming from the majority of existing local wind energy installations, CIWIN sees great potential in wind energy generation for Cape Cod and the Islands. CIWIN will encourage, support, and disseminate verifiable, accurate studies and research that reflect the success and shortcomings of existing wind energy installations across New England. With proper siting using existing setback limits, Cape Cod and the Islands can benefit from wind energy, just as have Hull and Portsmouth.
Thank you for visiting the CIWIN website!