March 3, 2012
Letters, New York

Prattsburgh wind law a good start, but it needs improvement

www.steubencourier.com 3 March 2012

“Trying to sleep at this level of sound and vibration [over 45 dBa] is like trying to sleep in a wind tunnel. When winds are from the South/ Southwest, I go for several days with no sleep. . . The turbines are 1,500 feet from my home.” Cohocton Resident
Wind turbines need to be regulated carefully. They are 400 foot machines with multi-ton moving parts. Putting them too close to a property line means a neighbor can’t safely use his own property
Dehumanizing people by calling them names is a time honored way to remove people’s rights without arousing sympathy from observers. So people who mention noise and shadow flicker aren’t homeowners who love Prattsburgh: they are “antis.” Residents who talk about setbacks for health and safety aren’t your neighbors: they are “liars.” And it’s not just commercial wind that brings on the name calling in Prattsburgh.
Because of sarcasm and name calling, too many intelligent people with integrity steer clear of town business. They don’t want to be called names, and have their families’ characters assassinated when they stand up for what they believe in. Intimidation works.
A wind law has been passed in Prattsburgh. It’s not a great law. The setbacks are a tremendous compromise. Judging from the noise and shadow flicker in other towns in the United States, Europe and Australia, the setbacks should be much greater, but it is better than nothing.
No one is opposed to renewable energy. It’s not a matter of for or against – it is a matter of designing a project that does the least harm to people in the project area.

Ruth Matilsky
Prattsburgh, NY


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/03/prattsburgh-wind-law-a-good-start-but-it-needs-improvement/