I wasn’t going to post today, working up to the moment when innkeeping and gardening take over my time and daily posts are no longer an option, but I received three emails that will interest readers, as well as a phone call. We’ll start with the phone call from an activist against the wind turbine, proposed for Wellfleet. Ginny specified the 410-foot turbine would be closer to Duck Pond than to White Crest. She told me there was a meeting tonight at 7 pm, at the library, on this issue. I explained I did not need convincing, that I had already changed my mind based on the water tower and the realization that Wellfleet needs to remain as is, no more disruption to our tourist industry, please. Ginny said this was not the type of thing she usually did, being an activist, that is. Those words made me laugh. They fit my behavior about N to a T. I urged her to find the time this week to write a letter to Scott Soares at DAR.
The emails were about last night's meeting in Harwich on herbicidal spraying. My general impression after reading them is that a huge amount of education remains to be done, although the Harwich Conservation Department did advise seeking alternatives methods of brush removal. A few quotes from the emails:
“Seems more Cape Codders know Siobhan Magnus is on Idol than N is starting to spray their ‘chemical cocktail’ and the possible effects.”
"N had the Cert. OG Harwich Cranberry Grower speak that this was a sound plan and how well N worked with him not to spray near his bogs. He's a certified & licensed pesticide contractor ... HUH??? I'm not buying cranberries from him anytime soon."
“The Town brought up the possibility of bringing in Americorp volunteers, who are working with the Conservation Department to clear out unwanted vegetation in Harwich conservation areas, at no cost to the town. A town official asked if N would be open to that, and N did not feel that was viable at this time.”
Strangely enough, the meeting was not televised, as it was supposed to be.
Finally the Board of Selectmen voted to send a letter to Scott Soares requesting a twelve-month moratorium. Good for you, Harwich. Go, activists!
7 comments:
I believe you may have inadvertently transposed two characters in your specification of the height for the proposed windmill. I think it's not 140-feet. Rather, it's now grown to 410-feet.
My chief concerns regarding the proposed windmill are its height, its weight, its footprint and its location.
If windpower is essential to our Town's well-being, I recommended an alternative location and height be considered. How about putting up multiple, smaller (perhaps 140-foot) turbines on the old, now submerged, Billingsgate Island?
Let's NOT construct an industrial-sized 410-foot turbine on top of the dunes at White Crest near Duck Pond. That's killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
I'll bet I was not the only person surprised the first time I rounded the bend at the corner of Kendrick and Commercial Streets to discover the Too Tall Water Tower spoiling the visual landscape of quaint old Wellfleet village as seen from the Marina. It's not as attractive as seeing the steeple on the Congregational Church. I wonder how many townspeople would have approved the water tower had they realized ahead of time its visual impact.
Thanks for noting the typo, ITScout, re. turbine height. I totally with your last paragraph.
Thanks for posting your blog - very interesting and as an Ocean View Drive resident, heartening to hear that you've come around on the turbine issue! However, on today's blog you got the size wrong - the proposed monstrosity is over 420 feet high - that's half the height of the Empire State building! Please make the correction - there are already too many misconceptions out there and i'm terrified that the voters will end up being snookered into believing that this is a good plan!
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Melinda
Eek! Eek! It has been a very busy day. Thanks, Melinda. I will go change it in the text.
More education needed? Why oh why? Herbicides kill plants. They are toxic. They pollute people's bodies. I'm glad -- so glad -- that they are now suggesting some alternatives be looked into (though frankly that seems a little weak to me...)
I wonder why they do not think bringing in Americorps volunteers to clear the vegetation is feasible?
Good question, Kerry. They insist they are "responsible" for doing it themselves, yet have contracted the job out to three companies who will spray the toxic chemicals.
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