February 9, 2007
Letters, New York

Some towns not listening on wind

Moresville Energy Center in Stamford (fronting for Invenergy LLC), encouraging placing industrial wind turbines, or IWTs, in the Catskills, is running advertisements promoting these 420-foot monsters as opportunities for children to experience “a cleaner tomorrow.”

Its incentive comes from indecisiveness by town supervisors hesitating, even though their citizens have spoken out against IWTs.

One supervisor stands out against a sea of poor leadership and courage: Tom Garretson of Cherry Valley. The Freeman’s Journal in Cooperstown, applauding Mr. Garretson’s efforts against Reunion Power, wrote: “A freshman town supervisor, he firmly and courteously followed the logic of facts in the face of resistance from his family, his political mentor and longtime friends and associates.”

The battle continues today in Andes, Bovina, Roxbury, Stamford, Meredith and Walton. Will there be a town supervisor strong enough to listen to the people and follow Tom Garretson’s lead?

Andes Town Board was presented regulations by The Andes Alliance permitting smaller, individual wind turbines (generously, up to 110 feet in height) but restricting taller industrial turbines. In spite of this directive, the board, under Supervisor Martin Donnelly, asked for more time, extending a prior moratorium for an additional six months. The reason: To find ways to incorporate the proposed law into complicated zoning regulations, vulnerable to manipulation in favor of IWTs.

Mr. Donnelly: The people of Andes have spoken: 1,258 individuals have given you letters protesting IWT, an overwhelming majority of voters.

Failure to act on their wishes, aside from political consequences, will only further encourage Invenergies of the world to rape our pristine landscape.

Stephen Berg
Andes

thedailystar.com


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/09/some-towns-not-listening-on-wind/