To all the people interested in the Sheffield/Sutton industrial wind project:

To all the people interested in the Sheffield/Sutton industrial wind project:

This letter is about facts findings.

Fact 1. There are two sides to this debate.

Fact 2. We are all entitled to our own opinions.

Fact 3. We are all neighbors.

Fact 4. Just because there is more than one opinion that doesn’t mean that we have to be enemies.

Fact 5. Neither side can get a straight answer from the wind turbine company UPC Vermont Wind LLC.

Fact 6. The wind company paid for a bus to Searsburg so that people could see and hear the towers for themselves.

Fact 7. The towers were turned off so they couldn’t make any noise.

Fact 8. The selectmen saw fit to hire a lawyer.

Fact 9. The selectmen took money from the wind tower company UPC to pay for the lawyer.

Fact 10. This is not really an ethical move for the selectmen to take. It puts both the town and the lawyer in a very precarious position.

Fact 11. There are two types of signs in and around Sheffield and neighboring towns. Those for and those opposed.

Fact 12. Some of the pro-wind signs are on other people’s property rather than the people’s property they are meant for.

Fact 13. The wind company UPC has given several presentations, however, have not given any true facts that are documented.

Fact 14. Any business has documented facts when trying to move into a new area.

Fact 15. The FAA says that a wind farm or any other structure within a 6.5-mile radius of an airport must not be as tall as these wind towers.

Fact 16. There is a state airport in Lyndonville.

Fact 17. The amount of power put out by 26 wind turbines will only supply a very small percentage of the power used in Vermont.

Fact 18. The wind company hired a high-powered public relations firm from Burlington to fight for them against citizens of Sheffield. There is no documentation that says sale of the power will be used on the Northeast Kingdom.

Fact 19. According to the wind company, there is a 40-decibel noise level coming from the towers.

The facts go on and on, but the real facts are that this country, state and town were built on a theory of democracy. All the people involved both for and against should think about that. No matter who wins, life will go on and we will all still have to live together.

Everyone vote and let their opinions and let life as a community go on. Remember this great country was built on democracy and democracy means that the majority vote is the governing vote, with the opinions of the minority considered and respected.

Robert G. Snedeker

Sheffield