January 31, 2017
Letters, New York

Wind turbines present many reasons for concern in North Country

Opinion: Wind turbines present many reasons for concern in North Country, says Potsdam resident | North Country Now | January 24, 2017 | northcountrynow.com

There are many reasons to be concerned about wind turbines. Many times larger than anything known to our area, the proposed massive turbine engines atop wind towers would dwarf any buildings, towers, trees or structures in the Northern Adirondack foothills and Seaway Valley.

Wind Turbines do fail and break, traveling much farther than so-called “safety” zones or setbacks. Each turbine would produce 3 Million Watts, multiplied by 40 initial turbines, that’s 120 Million Watts of electromagnetic cancer-causing radiation traveling through our properties, roadways, and neighborhoods and leaking through under- and above- ground lines as it winds its’ way through our communities and hundreds of miles to its downstate destinations.

I’ve been up close to wind turbines such as the Madison County, Lowville, and Chateaugay/Ellenburg installations. The many engines stop and start at multiple times to adjust direction when the wind shifts slightly, and they sound very much like a jet engine taking off or landing each time they stop or start. Dr. Pierrepont, of Malone, published a book about “Wind Turbine Syndrome” documenting some of the serious health effects of the turbines and their “flicker effect”, noise, and other phenomena [including infrasound] which cause headaches, insomnia, tinnitus, serious mental health problems, such as seizures and cognitive disorders, etc., in people without prior issues.

There have since been many times more illnesses due to wind turbine syndrome, leading people to leave or abandon homes due to debilitating health effects. And who will buy your home with a view of turbines?

Then there’s the loss of important wildlife, including deer, birds, eagles, bats, forests, and even human lives. These impacts are all well documented by many studies and testimonials that clearly find negative impacts from turbines on health, safety, property values, taxes and the environment, yet wind company supported studies disagree with the majority of published studies.

This, for the profit of a large multi-national corporation based in Spain, while U.S. and New York made turbines that are more natural and state-of- the-art are currently under development.

After a 20 or so year life expectancy, who will ultimately be left with these useless skyscrapers, reduced property values and revenue, and no money or means to dismantle and remove them? I have serious doubts that this company will still be around to see it through. This project is a lose-lose proposition for our school, towns, county, as well as, the surrounding region. This growing arsenal of turbines will be an eyesore not just in our towns, but all around the county, as well as, areas of the Adirondacks, Vermont, Canada and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

If wind turbines drive away, kill or disrupt our wildlife, our neighbors, the environment, the natural beauty of our area, and our tax base, what kind of future are we creating or destroying? What legacy are we to leave for our children, community and the future?