National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Energy beneficiaries do not want turbines

We read with interest the Sept. 27 letter from Rob DiFrancesco, executive director of New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance about “No Yorkers,” his name for anyone who opposes new energy choices in New York. Upon checking the NYAREA website, we noted that under wind and solar, the reason given by this lobby group for the opposition to wind projects in the state (a proposed wind turbine installation in Lake Ontario off the shores of Oswego and Jefferson Counties has gone nowhere) is all because of opposition based on the potential disruption of local views or activities. Apparently, concerns over water quality, bird and bat mortality (including endangered and protected species), damage to fisheries, damage to the Salmon River Watershed and the Tug Hill aquifer, proven health issues and habitat fragmentation etc., in addition to, yes, the destruction of beautiful, unique viewsheds don’t matter to this lobby group made up of business, labor, energy, environmental and community leaders.

Industrial wind turbine facilities are not permitted on state lands, in the Adirondack Park or within 30 miles of Long Island. Look at where these facilities are being built and proposed: areas that are economically depressed, low-population densities, rural and in many cases areas that depend on tourism, fisheries and other activities that are important to the economies of these communities.

Wind turbines may be appropriate in some places. But if they are such efficient producers of electricity and so beautiful to look at, perhaps they should be placed on lands owned by the state and within sight of the people who are actually going to be receiving the benefits of this intermittent power source.

As residents of the north country and Tug Hill specifically, we believe that those of us who are directly impacted by these industrial wind facilities are the ones who should determine whether they are appropriate for our communities rather than people who are going to reap the benefits but won’t allow them in their backyards.