In last week’s Republican, Jerry Plauger stated his case for private property rights and applauded the Garrett County commissioners for standing up for them. I support Jerry as far as he goes, but he didn’t go far enough. He neglected to discuss the fact that when the exercise of “private” property rights adversely impacts on neighbors or the community at large, it is no longer a “private” matter. It then requires the elected officials to step in and mediate a solution that protects the welfare of the community as a whole. Landfills, pig farms, factories, and 450-foot wind turbines are not “private” operations.
We are not quibbling about the right of a person “to make a little money on his ridge top if he chooses to.” We have serious concerns that the installation of 450-foot wind turbines along the scenic ridges of Garrett County will disrupt our economy and ecology in an irreversible manner.
We need for our commissioners to take a stand and protect our county from the wind industry.
Charles E. Thorne
Oakland
20 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/20/not-a-private-matter-when-projects-impact-neighbors/