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Falmouth Town Meeting Will Look at Wind Turbine Bylaw

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Falmouth Town Meeting members will consider whether to change a town bylaw that requires a special zoning permit for the town's controversial wind turbines.

A Special Town Meeting in Falmouth next week will attempt to resolve the controversy surrounding two, town-owned wind turbines that some neighbors say are affecting their health.
 
A warrant article seeks to amend the town's wind turbine bylaw to allow the turbines to keep operating, despite a cease-and-desist order issued by the Zoning Board in September. The move is a response to a judge's ruling that the turbines were erected without proper zoning approval.
 
Some residents living near the turbines have complained for years that sound coming from the turbines is disrupting their sleep and causing strange health effects. But other Falmouth residents question those claims. Two years ago, Falmouth voters rejected a measure that would have taken down the turbines, citing climate change, the need to promote renewable energy, and the potential cost to remove them.

WCAI reached out to Falmouth officials about the issue and the upcoming Special Town Meeting, but officials declined comment because of ongoing litigation.

WCAI’s Brian Morris spoke to resident Neil Anderson, who lives next door to one of the turbines. He says his health has improved since the closest turbine to his home was shut off early last month.