‘These people’
Bangor Daily News, bangordailynews.com 17 October 2011
First Wind’s lead attorney presented her closing statement in support of a wind energy project proposed for Bowers Mountain at the LURC meeting in Ellsworth on Oct. 5. Based on submitted testimony, Mainers oppose this massive, sprawling ridge-top development, which will tower above some of the most outstanding lakes in the state of Maine, by a ratio of 9:1.
Identifying those of us in the audience who were not First Wind employees, attorneys, lobbyists, contractors or consultants, First Wind’s attorney complained “these people” are running all around the state opposing wind projects.
“These people” opposed one facility due to its adverse impacts on endangered wildlife and opposed another due to excessive turbine noise. These people were opposed to the Bowers project based on its adverse scenic impact.
“These people,” Mrs. Browne avowed, will oppose every wind project because they don’t want them in their backyards.
In her final moments of debate, First Wind’s attorney dealt the coup de grace – in desperation, she used the “NIMBY” label. NIMBY, or “not in my backyard,” is intended to be a scathing insult. But those who dare to stand toe-to-toe with powerful corporations wear that label with pride.
After years of independent research, they’ve come to realize that mountaintop industrial wind comes with high costs and low benefits; and it is not based on sound science or economics.
These people have done their homework and are standing up for what they believe is right. Cheap potshots from desperate wind developers won’t changes the facts.
Karen Bessey Pease
Lexington Township
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/17/these-people/