HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3410        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2898

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Brian R. Mannal

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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 relative to the siting of land based industrial wind turbines.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3410        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2898

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2960 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to the siting of land based industrial 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:
 

Section 3 of Chapter 40A of the General laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the after the words "the city and town enacting such ordinance and by-law" the following:-

Section 1. The legislature finds and declares that industrial wind turbines can be over 400 feet tall; that as a result of their size,  these machines have the potential to reduce property values for nearby residents unless they are sited at appropriate distances from residential areas; that recent  studies have further indicated that the noise and vibration stemming from the operation of large scale industrial wind turbines may cause nearby residents to suffer from a health condition known as “wind turbine syndrome” which may result in sleep disturbance,  headaches, ringing of the ears,  ear pressure, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, visual blurring, racing heart beat, irritability, problems with memory, and concentration, and panic episodes accompanied by internal pulsation; that medical, noise and acoustic experts have indicated that “wind turbine syndrome” can be avoided if industrial wind turbines are sited an appropriate distance from residential property. The Legislature therefore finds that, in order to protect the public health and welfare, and to protect residents from unnecessary reductions in property values, it is both reasonable and necessary to prohibit the siting of industrial wind turbines in or near residential areas.

Section 2. No wind turbine may be erected or installed in the Commonwealth at a site that is closer than 3,000 feet from any residence or residentially zoned property. No state  regional or  municipal entity may approve or provide funding for any plan, proposal, or permit application for a wind turbine that  will be erected or installed at a site closer than 3,000 feet from any residence or residentially zoned property. The provisions of this section shall apply only to wind turbines erected or installed subsequent to the effective date of this act.