Some urge slow-going on Cohasset wind turbines

An energy company hopes to install two wind turbines, much taller than one in Hull, in Cohasset by next fall. (Boston Globe/File 2006)

Two wind turbines could stretch 462 feet into the Cohasset skies as early as next fall, but neighbors are urging the town not to rush.

CCI Energy LLC, run by Plymouth businessman James Sweeney, is leasing part of the Graham Waste Services property off Route 3A with plans to build two, 1.65-megawatt wind turbines there.

The openness of the property, coupled with the height of the turbines, is expected to produce the maximum energy yield, estimated at about 8 million kilowatt hours annually for the pair.

The electricity would be sold, and while there has been some discussion that Cohasset would have the opportunity to buy the power at a reduced rate, to date there is no such agreement in writing. That issue has been raised by project opponents.

But Sweeney said Monday "that has been the intent from day one."

The project, now under review by the Cohasset Planning Board, is the first test of the town's new bylaw regulating commercial-size wind turbines, which was passed a few months ago at annual Town Meeting. The bylaw allows the turbines in all zoning districts, if they receive a special permit through a process overseen by the Planning Board. The town's Alternative Energy Committee, which developed the bylaw, is enthusiastic about the turbines.

Sweeney said the wind turbine project has been in the planning since 2006, and he attended most of the Alternative Energy Committee's discussions as the bylaw was being written. Sweeney is a past chairman of Plymouth's Energy Committee and penned the wind turbine bylaw for his town.

At the opening hearing held by the Planning Board this month, Sweeney and other project planners immediately ran into flak from residents of Sanctuary Pond Road and other neighboring areas, as well as from a developer who has permits to build a 200-unit apartment complex nearby under the state's 40B affordable housing law.

A petition, signed by nearly 200 residents, has already arrived at the Planning Board's office. While saying they do not oppose wind energy, the petitioners cite four concerns: the proximity of the turbines to homes and businesses, the proposed 462-foot height, the lack of an independent analysis of the data the applicant has provided, and the absence of a guarantee that the project would financially benefit the town.

Sanctuary Pond Road resident Jeffrey Patterson, who says his property is about 1,500 feet from where one of the turbines would stand, worries about noise, the flicker and shadow effect of the whirling turbine blades, and even ice being thrown from the large structure toward his residence in cold weather.

"We don't want to stand in the way of progress, and with the world situation I understand why everyone is looking to alternative energy sources, but let's go at this carefully and rationally," Patterson said. "Cohasset appears to be rushing forward. I feel like we're fighting an uphill battle where everyone wants to jump on the 'green' bandwagon."

Patterson said the project developer is aiming to construct two of the largest turbines in New England. "Why can't he use turbines that are smaller?" Patterson said. "There should be some compromise."

The Hull turbines, Wind One and Wind Two, with the largest being 240 feet tall, have been frequently mentioned by Cohasset residents who back the wind project. Patterson contends the comparison is misguided. "Those are shorter than the ones being proposed," he said. "We need to know what the impact of these larger ones is."

Sweeney contends the height of the wind turbines he is proposing will be the standard for the future, since the rotor blades have to be high enough to avoid interference to the wind current from neighboring objects such as buildings or trees.

CCI Energy submitted a 70-page study on potential impacts of the project, prepared by consultants at Emergent Energy Group in Boston. But many residents haven't been satisfied that the report, now under review by Planning Board engineers, thoroughly addresses the issue.

Sweeney said Monday that he has hired Tech Environmental of Waltham to do some additional study on the impacts.

"We'll also do another noise study in November, when the leaves are off the trees, to see the worst-case scenario for the neighbors," Sweeney said. "We want to work with the community."

The 200-unit affordable housing project, about to be built by AvalonBay Communities, would lie within 350 feet of one turbine, according to Scott Dale, the company's vice president of development. If the turbine fell, it would land on some of AvalonBay's buildings, Dale said.

"We're concerned over general public safety, as well as noise and visual impacts," Dale said. Emergent's consultants hadn't factored the presence of the housing complex into the study, believing the project was tied up in appeals.

Dale said all issues have been settled and the construction timetable for the apartments is being set. "We expect to be starting to build in early '09," Dale said. "We've sent them information on our project and asked them to redo their study. That's only reasonable."

Sweeney said the location of the turbines will be shifted somewhat to address AvalonBay's concerns. Those new locations will be presented at a coming hearing. The Planning Board had set the session for Oct. 6, but Sweeney plans to ask for an extension to Oct. 20.

Main Street resident Francis Collins has been outspoken in his support of the wind turbine project.

"I think this is something that's long overdue in Cohasset," Collins said. "It's a very benign way to generate energy. I'm a marine engineer, and I see these turbines all over the world, sometimes six or eight together. All these concerns are 'the sky is falling' syndrome."

If Sweeney can secure his special permit from the Planning Board, he expects to erect the wind turbines in the third quarter of next year.

Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com.