HomeMy WebLinkAbout03082012 Energy Study Committee MinutesDRAFT Minutes for special meeting on March 8, 2012, 2 Fairgrounds Road, 11AMNext scheduled regular monthly meeting is on April 5, 2012, 5PM, 2 Fairgrounds Road
In attendance were Committee Members Anne Kuzspa, Peter Morrison, Whitey Willauer, and H. Flint
Ranney.
Members of the public in attendance were: Lauren Sinatra, Jim Aylward, Karen Palmer, and Selectman Rick Atherton.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Anne Kuzspa at 11:03AM. Lack of quorum noted. No votes to be taken.
Peter Morrison went over the Peer Review process, identifying consultants Tech Environment and Acen-
tech are the two most qualified firms to conduct the Acoustic Study peer review. Lauren Sinatra clarified that because the the peer review is being contracted directly by the MassCEC, that no formal proposal re-view would need to be conducted by the Town. Instead, the MassCEC was generously allowing the Town to recommend the best qualified consultant. It was suggested that Lauren speak with Dave Kanyock about
his experience with Tech Environmental before making the best judgement as to the winning consultant.
Karen Palmer said that any result of a Peer Review coming March 23 or later would not be helpful as there would not be enough time before the March 31 ATM to study the data. Jim Aylward thought that a Mass
Clean Energy Center peer review would be tainted since that agency’s mission is wind energy. Whitey
said that the review would be in the best interests of the Town. Flint stated that the review must be impar-tial. Peter said that Tech Environment would not be politically corrupted and their report would be objec-tive.
Anne will present Article 13 at the Civic League’s Meet The Articles meeting on March 10.
Peter and Flint both suggested that we might be better off postponing or tabling our Article at ATM rather than see a negative vote that might kill the turbine project entirely. Anne disagreed, thinking that discus-sion on the floor would bring out objections that might be countered before a vote. Mr. Aylward said that,
considering the virulence of the opposition, giving up on the wind turbine project would be in everyone’s best interests. He said that there are many alternatives that people opposed to the wind turbine could get behind and support. Lauren said that National Grid’s energy audits are proving effective.
It was suggested by Peter and Flint that the full NESC schedule another special meeting, possibly on
March 15 or 22 to discuss our ATM strategy further.
Adjourned at 12:17 PM.
Respectfully submitted, DRAFT H. Flint Ranney, Secretary
Nantucket Energy Study Committeehttp://www.ackenergy.org