Growing opposition to wind farms
Valley News | January 20, 2014 | www.vnews.com
Kudos to the residents of Grafton, who last March at the polls had the foresight not only to vote in clear opposition to the proposed Wild Meadows Wind Farm (366 against, 166 in favor), but also for having the perspicacity to vote in place a “ Community Rights Based Ordinance” as a legal stance to decide their own energy future.
The towns of Alexandria (273 against, 101 in favor), and more recently Danbury (249 against, 116 in favor), have also voted against this corporate onslaught in clear, verifiable and democratic fashion.
The other day, the New Hamphsire Site Evaluation Committee rejected as incomplete the application of the Spanish company, Iberdrola, though most probably not as a result of an order by the Legislature to put in place a re-evaluation of how and where these wind turbines are sited. In addition, The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests petitioned that the Wild Meadows Wind Farm be suspended for a year until a review of the Site Evaluation Committee siting criteria is completed. This, together with earlier filings by the Appalachian Mountain Club, New Hampshire Wind Watch and the Wild Meadows Legal Fund, points to growing opposition to wind towers on our scenic ridgelines. And in Groton there is ongoing bickering as to whether Groton Wind (another Iberdrola project) is in compliance with fire and safety standards due to violations there.
Meanwhile, these wind companies, both foreign and domestic, scramble for available state and federal subsidies while their representatives continue to be in denial as to the wishes of a clear and democratic majority in these New Hampshire towns.
Of course, contrary to what the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2010 in its Citizens United decision, these corporate entities are not in fact people. Why not, you ask? The answer comes easily. People most often possess a conscience and have a sense of civic responsibility.
Skip Gorman
Grafton
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/21/growing-opposition-to-wind-farms/