Wind tower concerns continued
Sun Journal | www.sunjournal.com 2 June 2012
Recently I attended a public hearing in Dixfield about a wind tower ordinance proposed by the selectmen. The tone of the meeting was set when the selectmen declared they wanted a grid-scale wind power project on Colonel Holman Mountain for monetary reasons.
I don’t think they were ready for the 62 property owners from within two miles of the project and their very vocal, organized reactions.
Hart Daley repeatedly asked if the selectmen would reword parts of the ordinance to protect the Common Road citizens. Scott Belskis was very concise with his concerns and repeatedly came up with no answers from the selectmen.
The wind company CEO, Calvin Baumier, led most of the discussion. I addressed three real arguments against his reasoning for a grid-scale wind project.
He claimed that Carthage and Canton will have wind power. He argued that 4,000 feet from occupied homes is an adequate set-back. He then had Patriot Renewables’ representative try to convince those 62 property owners that noise of 45 dBA would not bother them.
I said, “Mr. CEO, I can petition for a moratorium tomorrow for Carthage and Canton. I have scales of rural sound from 35 dBA down to 18 dBA. Yes, we will hear them and it will bother us.” I also brought six sound-modeling maps showing that a one mile set-back is not enough.
The meeting ended without resolution. Once again, Colonel Holman Mountain residents were let down.
A moratorium petition will be at Dixfield’s polls on June 12.
Alice McKay Barnett, Dixfield,
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/02/wind-tower-concerns-continued/