Wind Power News: Letters
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
On wind energy, be careful what you wish for
Mayor Tom Barrett welcomes wind energy “with open arms.” State law now permits wind turbines 1,250 feet from your home and 500 feet from your property. In Fond du Lac County and Brown County, people living near turbines report health problems. Ann and Jason Wirtz restored their Victorian farmhouse. With the startup of wind turbines, their 10 alpacas spontaneously aborted their young. Their daughter developed intestinal lesions, had interrupted sleep and stress, and felt the low frequency noise on their . . .
Be wary of wind project
I remember the great feeling of finally paying off our mortgage. It went way beyond the obvious financial benefit. There’s a sense of freedom and security. If you fall on hard times, no one can take your house away. That’s why it was shocking to realize that everything we had worked for could be taken away by a well financed developer. What’s more, the laws of the state of Vermont would fully support it. There are no minimum distances from . . .
Equal protection for abutters
The key condition made by selectmen in the turbine operation policy is that under no circumstances will curtailed operations result in a fiscal deficit. The board since voted May 7 to eliminate the harm imposed upon residents at night (Turbines 1 and 2, off from 7 PM to 7 AM) while allowing full exposure of harm during the day (removing the 23 mph wind velocity cut-off). This measure is supposed to meet abutters halfway, selectmen alleging it is being done . . .
Energy consortium needs certain powers
New legislation to create the quasi-public East Bay Energy Consortium needs some clarification, including an explanation of proposed eminent domain power and issuing of bonds. The East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC), made up of the nine East Bay communities, has submitted a bill to the Legislature to enable the creation of a quasi-public agency. New legislation creates a need to clarify issues and to inform the public. Background: EBEC was formed in late 2009 to use renewable energy and energy . . .
Wind farm traffic ‘will put safety at risk’
As has previously been reported in The Lynn News, Falck Renewables has submitted plans to develop a wind farm on land between the two villages of Terrington St Clement and Clenchwarton. Many villagers living near to the proposed site have registered their objections with the borough council and a public meeting was held on May 1 to discuss the implications of this proposed development on our communities. I am absolutely dismayed to see an email from the Highways Department published . . .
Worried about Ouse wildlife
It had to happen, the last bastion of safe refuge along the Ouse Washes for many thousands of migratory birds is under attack from wind turbines. There has been applications for nine of these machines at Manea, the applicants wish to erect the turbines on the historical flight paths and preferred feeding grounds of the local migratory swan population of some 6-7000 birds. The sites of the proposed turbines are a stones throw away from the internationally famous Ouse Bird . . .
Wind turbines kill plenty of eagles
Recently, someone wrote a letter to the editor complaining about wolf hunting and potentially sandhill crane hunting in this state. That writer’s final question was, “When would the bald eagles be next to be hunted?” Recently an article appeared in the Wisconsin State Farmer that answers this question. In 2009, the federal government developed a permit process that created a compromise between the demand for wind power and concerns over the hundreds of thousands of birds and bats the wind . . .
Highland wind
In May 2011, a press conference was held to announce that a majority of Highland Plantation’s residents signed petitions opposing the grid-scale wind energy facility proposed by Independence Wind, owned by Rob Gardiner and, until March 18, 2012, U.S. Senate candidate and former Maine Gov. Angus King. Gardiner and King had just withdrawn their second application for the project after the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife submitted a review stating that the project in Highland was “not an . . .
Wind projects expensive
In the April 29 guest column, “Clean energy best for state,” there was a deceptive statement made regarding the output of the Palouse Wind power project. The whole truth should be known. The statement was, “It will provide enough clean electricity to power more than 30,000 Washington homes.” The whole truth is that on a few hours per year it will provide three times the power required for those homes. On a few more hours, it will provide no power . . .
Wind power more inefficient than fossil fuels
This is in response to the April 19 letter, “Vote for innovation in U.S. energy policy,” in which the author is lamenting the “evil” oil companies. We all need to be honest in regard to pulling back some subsidies on oil. Thanks to the speculators investing in the market, all our pocketbooks are suffering. However, subsidies for industrial wind farms have been going on since the Carter administration, and I am disgusted with the use of American tax dollars invested . . .
