Matawan passes resolution opposing construction of BRSA’s wind turbine 

They are the fourth bayshore municipality to formally oppose the wind turbine

The Matawan Borough Council joined several other bayshore municipalities by passing a resolution that opposes the construction of a wind turbine in Union Beach at the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority’s (BRSA) Wastewater Treatment Facility.

According to Resolution 11-09-36, which was passed 7-0 at the council meeting Tuesday night, Matawan Borough, “shares the concerns expressed by the residents and governing body particularly in light of what appears to be at best a limited effort by BRSA to reach out to residents of the Bayshore and a lack of transparency in this matter.”

The BRSA is a government agency that handles the raw sewage of Union Beach, Holmdel, Keyport, Hazlet, Keansburg, Matawan, Aberdeen and parts of Marlboro, by transporting, treating and disposing it. The BRSA did not return phone calls asking for comment, however they previously shared a video and documents with Patch that promote wind turbines as a safe and effective green energy source.

The resolution cites multiple reasons for opposing the construction, including “health and safety concerns, lack of protection for community roads and infrastructure, noise concerns and diminished property values.”

Matawan Borough Mayor Paul Buccellato expressed concerns over unknown effects of decibel levels and the turbine’s close proximity to homes. Buccellato is also worried that the transportation of the wind turbine components will destroy roads and infrastructure, as they plan to travel through Matawan to reach Union Beach. The components were delivered to Newark earlier this month.

Bart Sutton, a Union Beach resident and the president of the Union Beach Environmental Trust, attended the council meeting and thanked the borough for taking a stance against the turbine.

“I would like to thank the mayor and council for passing this. From all the medical research and peer review coming out about the turbnines, there is a definite danger of health risks to people when they are too close to these things,” said Sutton.

So far, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Keyport, Hazlet and Holmdel have shown their support of Union Beach’s fight against the wind turbine by passing similar resolutions opposing the construction.

Paul Smith, the mayor of Union Beach, expressed gratitude toward municipalities who passed ordinances opposing the construction.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle,” Smith said. “We’ve put up with a lot in forty years. [The BRSA] has done their best to correct other problems, like odors, but we put up with too much with very little compensation.”

“We’re not opposed to green energy. [The turbine] is just too close to the homes and the majority of people in town just don’t want it,” Smith said.

Aberdeen, Marlboro and Keansburg have not taken any formal action, however Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini said Aberdeen Township is researching the issue.

“At this time we would have to be against any wind turbine that exceed the decibel levels safe for residents,” Tagliarini said. “Our biggest concern right now is whether or not our roads can handle this weight.”

The BRSA is still awaiting permits from the state and county levels to allow transport of the turbine components through the area.