Besides the fact that industrial wind turbines destroy habitat, endanger wildlife and disturb wetlands and streams, I guarantee that if you were told that when you look out of your picture window, instead of seeing the beautiful horizon, you will see an industrial turbine staring back at you, you would throw a fit. Well, that is what I will be viewing.
I moved to the mountains of Shade Township 25 years ago from Johnstown for the quietness, seclusion, and beauty that this mountain bestows. This mountain is not suited for everyone. Life here is not always easy. We must endure the hard winters, ice storms, and more bugs, but the pleasures far outweigh this. Every resident out here has respect for the environment. Oak trees are a treasure; the abundance of wildlife and forest plant life exceptional. Streams are pristine and springs are pure. In the evenings, one can appreciate the solitude while listening to coyotes calling from one mountain to another, and the owl in the distant countryside.
The view from my home faces the mountain range that is to exhibit these ugly turbines. Instead of seeing the beauty of the sunset, my view will be blocked by something that looks like it came from War of the Worlds, while putting up with the strobe light effects that result from the sun shining through them. The noise will be there 24/7 and will drown out any of the night sounds, not to mention disturbance of sleep.
Ms. Ellen Lutz said they only sound like your refrigerator running. Imagine 30 refrigerators running echoing through the mountain hollow in the quiet of the night. How do I know for sure? I have spoken to residents of Meyersdale who are victims of this abuse. Their lives are filled with despair and their area is scarred forever. They were told the same lies that we were told from Gamesa and now it is too late. Go to http://www.wind-watch.org/video-meyersdale.php and watch this documentary by Meyersdale residents living near turbines. As Gamesa said, our area does not have many residents. So that makes it OK to impose on our quality of life? We worked very hard, many years to build our homes and life here.
Oh, sure, Gamesa is such a “good neighbor,” they will give the landowners a key to the gate across the road so they can go in there and do what they have to do and get out. About the only thing that they will be able to do in there will be to clean up the bird carcasses.
These mountains are the last of the last totally pristine ecosystems in Pennsylvania. And yes we are emotional. We know what will be lost forever. There will not be any mountainous regions left in Pennsylvania; all vistas will be destroyed. How ironic that Pennsylvania is going to spend $3 million to save the ash trees from a beetle, but Gamesa can destroy whatever they want and a whole lot more than that beetle and it’s OK!
We are not against wind energy; it just must not be allowed to annihilate our mountain tops. Industry, good and bad, has destroyed a lot of the earth over the years. If Gamesa proceeds with this, there will be nothing left for the next generation. We are mere tenants of this earth; it is our place to take care of it.
We belong to the earth, it does not belong to us. That is a world truth.
Chris Harshberger
Cairnbrook
18 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/19/ruining-the-mountain-tops/