FAQ (new!)

Why? What’s the problem with a wind turbine on the high school property?
Because, the site is NOT physically large enough to locate the wind turbine so that it adheres to the wind turbine manufacturers’ & the State of Rhode Island’s recommended setback distances for safe operation and maintenance. Please click on the Wind Turbine Safety Links, on our homepage, to get specific information. You can also read the various letters to the media, posted on our homepage, that cite some of the important & specific safety guidelines that the Town of Barrington RI is choosing to ignore.

Isn’t Citizens Wind Watch just a group of NIMBY’s that are trying to ruin the town of Barrington’s opportunity to have a renweable energy to offset the high schools electrical energy costs?
No. We are not just a group of NIMBY’s, many members of our coalition are non-abutters to the proposed wind turbine site at the Barrington High School. Again, Citizens Wind Watch is not anti-wind power.

Why would the Town Council choose to locate a wind turbine on the high school property, if that site is not actually large enough to meet the manufacturers’ & state’s safety guidelines?
That is one our primary questions as well – every individual that has this question should directed that question to the Barrington RI Town Council during the public comment portion of the upcoming Town Council meeting on 7/7/08, which begins at 7:30 pm at the Barrington, RI Town Hall.
You can also email this important question to the Town Council: TownCouncil@barrington.ri.gov

Is the Barrington High School site the optimum location for a wind turbine?
No. There is at least one other site in the town of Barrington that the town’s Renewable Energy Committee, which reports to the Town Council, has publically stated would be a better location in terms of:
Available wind, per statistical wind maps.
Meeting the manufacturers’ & State’s safety guidelines.
Construction management & maintenence, in that the other site is NOT on school property and would allow for year-round access, without interfering with school activities, etc.

Why isn’t the Town of Barrington proposing the “better” site?
Because the financing that they have applied for, is site-specific to the High School, due to a piece of legislation which (although very likely to pass), has not yet been passed by both houses of government at the state level.

Why not just wait for that legislation to pass, then explore the alternate, better site?
That is one our primary questions as well – every individual that has this question should directed that question to the Barrington RI Town Council during the public comment portion of the upcoming Town Council meeting on 7/7/08, which begins at 7:30 pm at the Barrington, RI Town Hall.
You can also email this important question to the Town Council: TownCouncil@barrington.ri.gov

Speaking of exploring viable sites for a wind turbine, has the Town of Barrington done site specific feasibility studies, such as those enumerated in the 6/18/08 letter to the editor of the Barrington Times entitled: “Town Needs Detailed Wind Feasibility Study”?
No.

OK, I’ve read through the health and safety concerns and now have this question: Considering that the proposed wind turbine is on the grounds of the Barrington High School, what are the core responsibilities of the Barrington School Committee, as a publically funded educational facility in the State of Rhode Island?
We can attempt to answer that with the following quotation:
RI GENERAL LAW: TITLE 16
SECTION 16-2-9
16-2-9 General powers and duties of school committees:
(8) To provide for the location, CARE, CONTROL, and MANAGEMENT of school facilities and equipment.

Hmmm. If the Barrington School Committee agrees to allow the Town of Barrington to locate a 328’ industrial wind turbine on the grounds of the public High School, wouldn’t they be going against the specific and clear wording of this law?
We the people of the Citizens Wind Watch, believe that would be for the courts to decide. We are not the judge, or jury in this matter. We are just concerned citizens that do CARE about people that attend, work in and visit, the facilities known as Barrington High School.

I now understand the physical damage and health & safety risks involved with these large wind turbines. What impact might an industrial wind turbine located on the grounds of the high school have on the insurance policy, and or the insurance premiums that cover the high school building and its occupants?
We the people of the Citizens Wind Watch do not know the answer to that, but believe that in the rush to push this project through, these issues may not have been evaluated by the Town Council, or explored by the School Committee. every individual that has this question should directed that question to the Barrington RI Town Council during the public comment portion of the upcoming Town Council meeting on 7/7/08, which begins at 7:30 pm at the Barrington, RI Town Hall. You can also email this important question to the Town Council: TownCouncil@barrington.ri.gov

Beyond the facility and its occupants, the proposed wind turbine location is close to some busy streets and power lines. Is that a good idea?
Based on our research, we the people of the Citizens Wind Watch, do not think that it is safe to have an industrial wind turbine close to power lines and streets.

Who owns those streets and power lines and do they know about and approve of the wind turbine on the grounds of the Barrington High School?
County Road (Route 114) is a State Highway and that Federal Road is a Town of Barrington Road. We do not know what entity actually owns the power lines. We do not know if the owners of these infrastructural roads and utility lines are aware of, or approve of an industrial, 328’ tall wind turbine in close proximity to their property & equipment, or if they do, what liability the Town of Barrington, or the even School Committee, as the manager of the Barrington High School facility might face if there were an accident involving the proposed wind turbine that caused damage to the property of others.

What about the Wind Turbine manufacturer? What do they say about such large scale industrial equipment in close proximity to a public school?
The following is from one wind turbine manufacturer’s owner’s manual:
"Stay and Traffic by the Turbine. Do not stay within a radius of 400 m (1300 ft.) from the turbine unless it is necessary. If you have to inspect an operating turbine from the ground, do not stay under the rotor plane but observe the rotor from the front.
Make sure that children do not stay by or play nearby the turbine.
If necessary, fence the foundation. The access door to the turbine must be locked in order to prevent unauthorised persons from stopping or damaging the turbine due to mal-operation of the controller."