Blittersdorf and his towers
Caledonian Record | Dec 7, 2016 | www.caledonianrecord.com
David Blittersdorf proceeds with his one turbine wind project in Holland under a dark cloud of suspicion. On property he owns in Irasburg, David Blittersdorf erected a “Met” tower without going through the permitting process. On Blittersdorf’s Georgia Mountain project, a test tower that was to be removed by 2011 remains standing. David Blittersdorf is also being investigated for the placement of a “small” turbine on his property in Irasburg. A neighbor complains that it is too close to his property.
Even more troubling than David Blittersdorf’s cavalier attitude toward his neighbors and state regulators, is the Public Service Board’s and the Department of Public Service’s inability to decide if he has done anything wrong. The Public Service has a history of not holding developers accountable when they break the rules.
It is hard to believe that a person with access to millions feels he has to circumvent the process that has helped create his wealth. It is hard to believe that the Public Service Board would allow Blittersdorf to continue to run rough-shod over small communities like Holland, Morgan and Irasburg.
David Blittersdorf’s unethical and perhaps illegal practices point to obvious flaws in the Public Service Board process. Irasburg, Morgan and now Holland have all shown overwhelming opposition to David Blittersdorf’s renewable energy projects. Given the Public Service Board’s refusal to grant the town of Morgan a hearing on a proposed solar project, it is unlikely that the PSB will show “substantial deference” to any of these towns.
Richard Rumery
Newport Center, Vermont
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/12/09/blittersdorf-and-his-towers/