Westport Island residents support the use of private, but not commercial wind turbines, and support the use of tidal turbines, but split on commercial tidal turbines in the results of a survey distributed at the June 19 Town Meeting.
The object of the survey is “to obtain input from our residents concerning green energy and its potential regulation through town ordinances.”
Planning Board Chairman Ruth Nelson compiled the results of 29 completed surveys. The survey also asked about solar panels, town regulation of solar panel construction, private, freestanding antennas and commercial transmission towers.
Respondents favored solar panels (28-1), but not town regulation (20-10). Respondents split on transmission towers (14-14). One already exists on the island, according to the survey. The survey also showed strong support for the antennas (22-8).
Anonymous comments compiled from the survey included warnings and advice. According to one respondent, “Westport geography does not support wind turbines. Wind velocities are not sufficient nor constant enough to make them feasible.”
Another response came from someone who said they have experience in the sale and repair of wind turbines. “I find there are not a lot of places that are cost effective,” they said.
Two comments seemed to support wind turbines with careful regulation. “Yes, we need another energy source,” one said, “but environmental and noise factors must be a consideration.”
Another response asked for “reasonable regulations” for wind turbines, but said tidal turbines are already governed by state and federal rules.
The Westport Island Planning Board discussed the responses at their July 13 meeting. The town needs to update its electrical infrastructure, Richard Gray said. “The power grid we have now is 100 years old. It’s antiquated,” he said. “The transformation stations we’re off of now are toxic. They’re hazardous.”
Nelson said she feels that the board “should rewrite the 35-foot limitation and allow wind turbines up to 80 feet.”
After the meeting, Nelson explained. “We have an ordinance already and it’s very open-ended.”
According to Nelson, the board is not aware of plans to bring any of the devices discussed in the survey to Westport.
