LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]



Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Is democracy just blowing in the wind? 

Credit:  By Cathi Orr | The Daily News | thedailynewsonline.com 23 June 2012 ~~

Invenergy recently showed their true colors (again!) when they submitted a comment letter to the state Public Service Commission advising the PSC to rewrite the draft regulations for the new Article 10 regarding the installation of industrial wind projects amongst rural/residential areas of New York State. Invenergy thinks it best that the PSC leave out health and safety studies and relax noise regulations meant to protect residents, while at the same time asking the PSC for easier handouts of taxpayers’ monies to this multimillion dollar corporation. Obviously, Invenergy’s bottom line is their one and only concern.

As it stands now, the new Article 10 already removes all municipalities’ local decision-making authority, and allows multi-national, multi-billion dollar corporations like Invenergy, to do pretty much whatever they like, wherever they like. Constitutional rights that our forefathers originally fought and died to institute have seemingly been thrown to the wind. It remains to be seen if the PSC will cater to corporate wishes and fashion the law to further corporate financial agendas at the expense of the state taxpayers, ratepayers and private property owners.

This sad scenario reminds me of an article that appeared in the Batavia Daily several years ago called, “Is Democracy Blowing in the Wind?” The Town of Stafford was in the midst of fighting for their freedom from corporate interference in their town matters from large corporate conglomerates who, just like the case of Invenergy in Orangeville, wanted to turn their entire town into an industrial wind installation so they could pocket huge amounts of money at the taxpayers’ expense.

The article was written by a law firm (Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund – CELDF.org) which was conducting “Democracy Schools” across the U.S. They explained how the wind controversy was just the tip of the iceberg, and suggested that instead of being just about wind turbines, this fight is a tug of war between local democracy and huge corporations. What’s at stake, regardless of the particular corporation that comes into any given town, is that these mega-corporations have more rights than we, as taxpaying, rate-paying citizens do.

CELDF had a degree of success in previous years helping communities get laws on the books that prevented corporations from declaring the rights that were originally reserved by our Constitution for persons. Unfortunately, in 2010, New York State changed everything when it ruled that corporations were “persons” – giving Big Corporate the rights that were intended for you and I as persons in our Constitution. Sadly, this gives corporate interests an even stronger foothold to pilfer our communities and countrysides.

If Big Corporate has their way with the PSC regarding their suggested regulation changes for the new Article 10, Big Corporate is going to be having a heyday across New York State, taking whatever property they want through “eminent domain” – deeming it necessary for the overall public good and “Environmental Justice” (whatever that means). Safe, secure, private property rights in rural New York State will be a thing of the past. Who knows when you or your loved ones’ homes and properties might be the next target?

This is what it’s all about in a nutshell: Corporate “poppycock” continues to divide towns across the country while making a mockery of the U.S. Constitution – dragging it through corporate mire, and confusing issues with failed technology that can’t stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Wake up America! Wake up New York State! Wake up Orangeville! Don’t let socialism blow Democracy away from our shores – where the Brave fought so hard nearly 250 years ago to protect freedom for this great country and its people! We need to send these Big Corporate hucksters a message:

Stay out of our governing process! If you want to do business in America – peoples’ health, safety, welfare and private property rights are still what this country’s citizens value the most! And are willing to fight to protect! If you want to do business in our towns – don’t expect to use our taxpayer and ratepayer money to build projects that have not been scientifically proven! And, last but not least – pay the full taxable value of your projects! Don’t expect us to foot the bill so you can destroy our towns while ripping us off for a worthless product!

Politicians – we, the voters want to remind you:

Say no to the corporate takeover of our government at the expense of the people! Stop corporate welfare! End the Production Tax Credit for Big Wind. Taking money from hard-working American taxpayers and ratepayers to put into the pockets of multi-national, multi-billion dollar corporations is complete insanity that must stop!

Cathi Orr lives in Orangeville.

Source:  By Cathi Orr | The Daily News | thedailynewsonline.com 23 June 2012

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon