HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2956        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2379

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Todd M. Smola

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act creating a special commission to study the health impacts of wind turbines.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2956        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2379

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act creating a special commission to study the health impacts of wind turbines.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Whereas there are serious concerns across the Commonwealth involving the impact of large wind turbines on the health of its citizens; and,

Whereas people, who live in close proximity to wind turbines or who are concerned about the siting of wind turbines, are concerned about the health impacts of wind turbines;

Therefore be it resolved that there shall be a Special Commission on the Health Impacts of Wind Turbines on the citizens of the Commonwealth.  Said Commission shall be comprised of the House and Senate Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Health as well as the ranking House and Senate minority members on the committee; the House and Senate Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy and the ranking House and Senate minority members; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or his designee; a scientist who shall be knowledgeable about the health affects of wind turbines who shall be appointed by the Governor; three epidemiologists one each who shall be appointed by the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House; the director of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment; the Executive Director or designee each of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the Old Colony Planning Council, and the Cape Cod Commission; a municipal health agent to be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards; a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society who shall serve as chair; a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association knowledgeable about the health effects of wind turbines; and three citizens of the Commonwealth living within 3000 feet of an operating wind turbine, one of each to be appointed by the regional planning agencies of the counties of Barnstable, Berkshire and Worcester.

Said study shall commence within 30 days of the enactment of this bill and said Commission shall file a report no later than September 30, 2011.  Said Commission shall study all facets of health impacts of wind turbines including but not limited to the effects of low frequency noise on humans and animals, sleep disorders, difficulty with equilibrium, headaches, childhood night terrors, effects on the inner ear, learning and mood disorders, panic attacks, irritability, concentration and memory, noise, flicker, proximity, size of wind turbine, and wind conditions.  Said study shall make recommendations to the Great and General Court on legislation designed to protect the health of the citizens of the Commonwealth including an acceptable distance to site a wind turbine project from dwellings and businesses and from municipal, commercial and residential property lines, an optimum wind turbine size and design that reduces health impacts to acceptable levels, and a recommendation as to whether wind turbine projects should be reviewed by local boards of health as part of the permitting process and any other matter that may come before the Study Commission that will enhance the protection of the public health.