To the town of Kingston

My name is Mark S. Beaton, chairman of the Kingston Green Energy Committee and former Board of Selectman member. Recent developments in regards to the Kingston Independence Wind Turbine and the attempt to shut it down by the Board of Health (BOH) and Board of Selectman (BOS) have me gravely concerned.

As a town of Kingston resident and proponent of Clean Renewable Energy, I am proud of the fact Kingston was designated Green Community status. This designation has enabled The town of Kingston (TOK) to receive $200,000 in grants for energy conservation. The retro fittings of the Smith Lane Fire Department, Kingston’s Public Library, and Kingston Elementary School have resulted in over $190,000 annual projected energy savings for the town. The Independence alone has generated over $75,000 of energy savings and lease payments for the town in just a few months of operation

At town meetings the voters were nearly unanimous for the wind and solar projects. After nearly seven years working with the Mass. Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection, The town of Kingston with its partnership with private enterprise has a portfolio of clean energy generation that is sufficient to power up the entire community. This independence from using fossil fuel is remarkable, and the town should be proud. It is unfortunate there is a movement to dismantle this feat by shutting down the turbines.

The state via the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has contracted acoustical consultants from Harris Miller Miller and Hanson (HMMH) to perform a turbine sound study analysis. To ensure public input and transparency there is also an Independent company hired by CEC; Consensus Building Institute from Cambridge. This process is well underway and has already gathered a significant amount of input from concerned neighbors. Most importantly, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) has authorized Mass CEC to conduct the study and experts will be reviewing the methodology and findings for compliance with the state noise policy.

To give some perspective on the issue, the MA DEP defines a violation of the noise policy as an increase in the broadband sound level by more than 10 decibels above ambient. The ambient sound level at the quietest time of night at the nearest residence to the turbine was found to be around 54 decibels. The wind turbine’s maximum sound level was found to be 50 decibels, quieter than the sound from a household refrigerator.

This means that the turbine is quieter than the background sound nearly always, and certainly well within the MA DEP limits. It was always understood that the wind turbine would be audible at times outdoors, but that the sound is very faint overall so that by closing a window or turning on a small fan the sound would not be audible inside. I understand that some nearby residence are demanding that the wind turbine be shut down so it would NOT be heard at all. But that is not a reasonable community or legal standard.

Attorney Senie, who represents some of the residents in opposition to the wind turbines, commended not only the process being proposed but also the legitimacy of the acoustical firm hired (HMMH). It is imperative that the process continues as quickly and responsibly as possible. If there is in fact a detrimental situation to the neighbors of the turbine, remedial action should be taken. Presently, no real data has been presented, such as verifiable recordings, studies, scientific or substantiated medical evidence the turbine are any real cause beyond visually unpleasing to few. This is much less impact than a refinery electric transfer station or various accepted energy and utility services that are presently accepted and highly damaging to our environment.

Having been at ground floor of the process getting Clean Renewable Energy a part of the fabric of our town, I am confident the findings will corroborate the facts the turbines are well within the state guidelines for acceptable practices. I am also aware the O’Donnell group is receptive to be incorporated in the sound studies provided the methodology used in the studies are fair and unbiased.