April 23, 2017
Letters, New York

Wind company offers St. Lawrence County no benefits

Opinion: Wind company offers St. Lawrence County no benefits, says Parishville man | North Country Now | April 21, 2017 | northcountrynow.com

I had the opportunity to attend the Hopkinton Town Board Meeting on Monday, April 10. Two town supervisors were invited to speak: one from Lowville and the other from Harrisburg.

It was the worst “dog and pony” show that I have ever seen! No offense to dogs and pony’s! The Lowville supervisor claimed that everyone in Lowville is in support of the wind farms and has never heard about anyone against them! The supervisor from Harrisburg (a lease holder) said that things are great in his town—”he never had so much money”!

When asked a number of questions to do with a PILOT agreement, with the town and school he said he “could not remember.” I am not sure what affected his memory: the money he received or the effects of the wind turbines.

The things that disturb me are the amount of Federal and NY State tax money that go into these wind projects! All the money goes to Spain, Saudi Arabia or China. The carbon footprint required to make these towers is enormous. The technology is behind the times! When the wind blows in Chateauguay we have to shut down our hydro plants! Power lines are not big enough to carry the power to down state (NY City).

Gov. Cuomo is promising that wind farms off Long Island will have a 30 mile setback! So they won’t be seen by LI residents – while we are facing 600 ft. towers – very close to our homes – 1-2 thousand feet! Iberderola’s method of operation is to “divide and conquer” – give money to lease holders and the rest of us have to pay the consequences – lower home values, subject to the negative effect of the wind turbines – human and animal health.

Many studies have been done documenting the negative effects of wind turbines. I am a 4th generation family, living in Hopkinton and Parishville – since the late 1800’s. I have committed four years to the US Air Force, 40 years as a dairy farmer, have served 20 years as a town board member and supervisor in the Town of Parishville for the last 13 years – in construction- (with my brothers and son) building homes for neighbors.