HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment- Wenger- SE3 5992 Park City WindAugust 7, 2023
To: Conservation Commission, Town of Barnstable
Re: Agenda Item SE3 5992- Park City Wind LLC (Aug 8, 2023)
Dear Commission Members:
I respectfully request careful review and consideration by the Conservation Commission to known and unknown impacts of the aquatic ecosystem that will result from cable placement across
the Centerville River before a vote is entertained.
Placement of the two 400 MW Park City Wind cables under the Centerville River will likely impact the fragile ecosystem in the river and surrounding wetlands due to significant EMF exposure.
Avangrid has elected not to utilize Best Available Technology (DC from offshore substation to on shore substation) due to cost (Pat Johnson, Avangrid, June 2023). It can be argued that
DC would not expose the environment to known and unknown EMF impacts from close AC exposure.
Fishing, boating, bathing in this immediate conservation area will be impacted (EPA). There are unknown impacts to waterfowl. Just as important is the Biotic interactions between river
living creatures/ micro-organisms and abiotic interactions. As the Commission is aware this has a potential impact to the larger Centerville River watershed network fed from lakes and
ponds to Nantucket Sound.
The following is a direct quote from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Scientific studies have not clearly shown whether exposure to EMF increases cancer risk. A few studies have connected EMF and health effects, but they have not been able to be repeated.
This means that they are inconclusive. Scientists continue to conduct research on the issue.
What You Can Do
If you are concerned about possible health risks from electric and magnetic fields, you can:
Increase the distance between yourself and the source. The greater the distance between you and the source of EMF, the lower your exposure.
Limit the time spent around the source. The less time you spend near EMF, the lower your exposure.
(United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Electric and Magnetic Field from Power Lines- 2022)
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Wenger
523 Main St
Centerville, MA
rjwenger@aol.com