October 4, 2013
Letters, Maryland

Zoning requirements only defense against wind farms

Cumberland Times-News | October 3, 2013 | times-news.com

Dear Allegany County Commissioners,

As taxpayers of Allegany County and residents of Harwood Subdivision located adjacent to the proposed Dan’s Mountain Wind Project, we respectfully request continued support of Code Home Rule Bill Number 2-09 and the wind farm zoning requirements contained within the bill.

The Code Home Bill was enacted in response to the threat of unregulated industrial wind farm development in Allegany County with input from Allegany County Citizens, Allegany County Planning and Zoning, the Allegany County Commissioners (James J. Stakem, Robert M. Hutcheson, and Dale R. Lewis) as well as representatives from U.S. Windforce.

This bill is the only line of defense against inconsiderate placement of wind turbines with respect to established homes in the county and must be defended at all costs in order to protect property values and most importantly, quality of life for the residents of Allegany County.

Any reductions, modifications, or allowed variances to the established zoning requirements contained within Code Home Rule Bill Number 2-09 will undoubtedly be taken advantage of by wind farm companies, and the residents of Allegany County will be forced to suffer the consequences for many years afterwards.

With this in mind, we respectfully request that the Allegany County Commissioners uphold the current wind farm zoning requirements and resist any industry pressure to reduce or accept variances to the present zoning protections afforded to the citizens of Allegany County.

Randy and Elaine Ridenour

Frostburg


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/04/zoning-requirements-only-defense-against-wind-farms/