Charlestown Democrats
call on town to negotiate an open space deal to end Whalerock crisis
(Charlestown) The Charlestown Democratic Town Committee
(CDTC) voted unanimously to express its opposition to the proposed Whalerock
industrial wind turbine project that has stirred up almost universal opposition
since it was first proposed three years ago.
But instead of spending more town resources on further legal
maneuvers to block the project, the CDTC called on town leaders to begin
negotiating in good faith with the Whalerock developers to purchase the
undeveloped 81 acres overlooking Scenic Route One so the land can be preserved
as open space.
Calling the Whalerock project “the wrong technology in the
wrong location,” town Democrats call the open space option “the best option to
serve the needs, interests, and property values of Charlestown citizens,
preserve this piece of beautiful land on our scenic highway, and protect the
environment.”
Charlestown voters have approved funding for open space/recreation
acquisition and funding for worthy projects, such as the beach pavilions at the
town beaches, that serve the greater good.
CDTC Chair Collette also noted, “As a committee, we are
still committed to addressing our community’s energy needs through green
energy, including wind power, but projects need to appropriately sized and
sited so that we don’t address one problem by causing another.”
Here is the full text of the CDTC Resolution:
While the Charlestown
Democratic Town Committee (CDTC) supports the concept of wind energy in viable
locations as one of the many forms of “green energy” needed to replace fossil
fuels and help reduce the devastating effects of climate change, the CDTC opposes the proposed Whalerock
industrial wind farm on the grounds that it is the wrong technology in the
wrong location.
However, the CDTC
believes that focusing solely on expensive and possibly futile litigation will
only result in one objectionable proposal after another for that land.
We urge Charlestown to
shift its approach away from litigation to reasonable and open-minded
negotiations that result in the acquisition of the Whalerock site as open
space.
The CDTC believes that
setting aside that property as open space is the best option to serve the
needs, interests, and property values of Charlestown citizens, preserve this
piece of beautiful land on our scenic highway, and protect the environment.