The Mayor’s Energy Advisory Committee (EAC) is recommending less stringent rules for allowing a wind energy conversion facility in the city. The EAC reviewed changes to the existing law made by the 2009 City Council Planning and Development Committee.

“We agree with several of committee’s recommendations regarding the areas needing revision,” the report says, “however, we believe the specific changes excessively restrict any future wind turbine installations in the City.”

EAC also recommends changing survey and other distance requirements for filing an application from 300 feet to one and a half times the height of the turbine. It does include language requiring an applicant to post a notice in a newspaper and notify abutters within three times the turbine height.

The committee also recommends that an applicant for a wind energy conversion facility provide a site-specific flicker study “exhibiting the locations of all shadows and flicker areas.” The report should detail the limits of impact, as well as the number of days, times and durations that flicker is possible, the proposed language reads.

This week the city’s building inspector Gary Calderwood said that he has not signed off on the 292-foot wind turbine at Mark Richey Woodworking because he has not received required reports, including an acoustic report and a flicker report. Ward 3 City Councillor Robert Cronin confirmed on Jan. 28 that Mark Richey has not submitted required reports to the city. Calderwood said the Conservation Commission also has not given final approval to the turbine.

Residential neighbors of the Richey turbine have complained consistently since it was erected of  noise from the facility and flicker, or light bouncing off the moving blades. The turbine was officially turned on in March 2009. Calderwood said he allowed it to be turned on “to see how it went.”

EAC member Niall Robinson said that Mayor Donna Holaday passed the proposed changes to the ordinance currently in place and re-worked by the 2009 Planning and Development Committee to the EAC. EAC Chairman Mike Strauss suggested to the mayor that EAC summarize the work EAC had been doing on wind energy with backup. The backup includes peer reviewed or government agency sources and links and references.

In an email to Newburyport Business, Robinson said the mayor agreed and suggested the report be passed on to the City Council when it was completed. All changes to an ordinance require a 14-day posting in a newspaper of general circulation and a joint public hearing between the Planning Board and the Planning and Development Committee.

Former Mayor John Moak established the EAC two years ago to study, evaluate, and make recommendations to the mayor regarding energy conservation, energy efficiency, and/or conversion to greener energy sources. EAC members also include the city's Recycling Coordinator Molly Ettenborough, 2007 mayoral candidate and green activist Jim Stiles and Waterfront Trust Chairman Cliff Goudey.

In the photo: Mark Richey (center) at the March 2009 dedication of the turbine on his property in the industrial park. Also in the photo are, from left, state Rep. Michael Costello, state Sen. Stephen Baddour and Teresa Richey.

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Thank you for writing, Cliff. No misrepresentation was intended.

Gillian , February 02, 2010

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Gillian, You misrepresent the intent of the EAC's recommended changes. The changes are related to existing SECTION XXVI of Newburyport's Ordinances titled WIND ENERGY CONVERSION FACILITIES. Our recommendations are for stricter standards for setback of these facilities, for more site-specific studies, and better public notification. In your story you compare our recommendations with the changes that emerged from the Council subcommittee process. By contrast, the EAC's recommendations would result in standards that are more consistent with those of other communities and with the model standards developed by the Commonwealth. The goal of such an ordinance should be to foster responsible siting but without blatantly discouraging renewable energy opportunities in the industrial park.

Cliff Goudey , February 02, 2010

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