Did You Know Barnstable Officials Are Concerned About Vineyard Wind Contaminating our Water Supply?
Barnstable officials are concerned Vineyard Wind's newly planned substation in Hyannis will further contaminate our local water supply, yet accepted 16 million dollars to use our public land despite these concerns.
The Town Manager and the Town Council presented expert witnesses on September 11, 2018 to testify under oath to the Massachusetts Energy Siting Board to urge this entity not to grant Vineyard Wind their request to waive a critical zoning ordinance in place to protect our water supply.
Barnstable officials retracted this testimony a few weeks later after they negotiated the 16 million dollar payment and signed and approved the Host Community Agreement with Vineyard Wind.
Barnstable's Town Manager and Town Council have been supporting Vineyard Wind ever since allowing a lesser standard of drinking water protection and unnecessarily put our water supply at a higher degree of risk.
Read Barnstable's Expert Witness Testimony Below:
Click Here to Read Ann Marie Petricca, Certified Professional Geologist Testimony
Excerpt: “Barnstable's sole-source aquifer is, by definition, its only source of potable water. A D.P.U. waiver of zoning in this respect is inconsistent with sound public policy and potentially allowing a lesser standard of protection by granting the requested zoning waiver will unnecessarily put Barnstable's water supply at a higher degree of risk. Doing so would be inconsistent with the mandate and the Company's plans are "consistent with current health, environmental protection, and resource use and development policies as adopted by the Commonwealth."
Click Here to Read Elizabeth S. Jenkins, Director of Planning and Development, Town of Barnstable Testimony
Excerpt: "I am also well aware of the challenges it faces and the risks that the Vineyard Wind project in Independence Park pose to the water system”. “I am firmly of the opinion that waiving the town's zoning ordinances that protect groundwater and wellhead is terrible public policy."
Click Here to Read Hans Keijser, Supervisor, Hyannis Water Supply Town of Barnstable Testimony
Excerpt: "The proposed substation sits atop the sole-source groundwater supply which is directly upstream from the Mary Dunn wellfield. If there is a release of dielectric fluids to the groundwater at the substation, it will flow downstream and be drawn into the Mary Dunn wellfield in as little as 7 days from entering groundwater. Such a release could also be drawn into the Yarmouth water supply shortly after reaching the Mary Dunn wells"
Click Here to Read Daniel Santos, Director, Department of Public Works, Town of Barnstable Testimony
Excerpt: "As the Director of the Department of Public Works of the Town of Barnstable, I am very familiar with the Hyannis Water System and the challenges it faces and the risks that the Vineyard Wind project in Independence Park pose to the water system. I have been asked to examine this project and provide evidence to the Siting Board." Q. Have you reviewed and do you adopt the testimony of Hans Keijser? A. "I have done so and adopt it as submitted"
Click Here to Read Peter J. Burke, Jr., Chief, Hyannis Fire Department Testimony
Excerpt: "High voltage electricity and salt air and water do not mix. Additionally, the WTG (Wind Turbine Generator) itself, located offshore provides an inherently complex and dangerous environment. It is not a matter of if, but only when, that mix will produce personal injury, explosion, and/or fire."