3/4/12 Why'd my property value drop? Look out my back door AND Town board united against wind farm strong arm.
From Deleware
LEWES WIND TURBINE LOWERED PROPERTY VALUE
Cape Gazette, capegazette.villagesoup.com
March 2, 2012
I am a retired White Plains, N.Y. policeman, and builder and Jerry Lechliter’s neighbor on Harborview Road in Lewes. Before I bought my lot in 2006 I talked with two neighbors about the land behind my lot and was told it was open space and would remain so forever. Much to my surprise, in 2010 I had a 410-foot monster practically in my backyard in this open space.
I had a property appraisal right before the wind turbine was built and one right after it had been in operation for a couple of months which was considerably lower and cannot be attributed just to the current weak housing market. If I put my house up for sale, full disclosure laws require me to tell any prospective buyer about the noise. Common sense tells you I won’t get the same selling price for an equivalent house located in a Lewes location distant from the turbine. The turbine makes noise that prevents me from sleeping if my window is open and sometimes even with the windows closed and ceiling fan on to try and drown out the noise.
From my backyard, I have probably one of the most unobstructed views of it. It is intrusive and unacceptable, is on state-owned open space, and the shell corporation created to own it makes about $500,000 per year to include money from tax credits. We taxpayers get nothing in return. It was constructed with no public input and the people we elected in the city and who work in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control did nothing to protect our interests. If I had known this monstrosity would be built where it is, I would have bought a lot elsewhere in Lewes.
Edgar P. Small
Lewes
From New York State
BOARD UNITES ON WIND FARM
By Mary Perham,
Bath Courier, www.steubencourier.com
March 4, 2012
Prattsburgh, NY — Wind farm developer Ecogen may be facing something new in its long history of threatened, and real, lawsuits against the town of Prattsburgh – a united Town Board.
Board members were in unanimous agreement the developer’s current proposal needs re-working when they met Monday night
“I’m not in favor of this,” town Supervisor Lenny McConnell said. “A lot more is needed.”
McConnell received support from all councilmen, including Councilman Chuck Shick, the board’s liaison for the current legal dispute, which was ruled on early last year by state Supreme Court Justice John Ark.
Shick’s objections to Ecogen’s proposal were more pointed.
“This is a slap in the face,” he told the board. “They don’t want to discuss anything.”
Ecogen’s proposal is one of two orders awaiting Ark’s signature. The other proposed order was submitted by the town shortly after Ark’s February 2011 ruling.
Ecogen’s proposed order simply turns the clock back to December 2009, when a former board approved a resolution essentially giving the developer the ability to do what it wanted. The resolution provided no incentives to the town and set out a road use agreement with changes made by Ecogen.
The incoming board rescinded the 2009 agreement and the parties took their case to court. Ark ruled Prattsburgh and Ecogen should come together on a road use agreement and gave the developer about six months to establish vested rights to the project.
Town officials promptly signed the road use agreement, tailored by Ecogen, and submitted its proposed order.
The only difference between December 2009 and now is Ecogen wants a different road use agreement, Shick said.
Shick told the board Ecogen refused to meet with town representatives, adding “They said we should just sign the settlement.”
McConnell said Ecogen’s stand simply opens the door for more negotiations, which includes incentives similar to the ones it offered the neighboring Yates County town of Italy for a related wind project.
Board members said any negotiations also should fill the gaps they see in the proposed order including the number of turbines in the project, “health and safety” setbacks set out in the town’s recent wind utility law, and the size and model of the turbines.
Shick said he is mystified by Ecogen’s stand on the road use agreement and suggested the town leave it up to Ark to decide which order to sign – something the board said it will consider if negotiations fall through.
McConnell and Councilwoman Angela Einwachter will meet with Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Jamie Johnson to learn what options the town has regarding the tax-incentive payments Ecogen must make to the town. The status of the environmental impact statement also is not known.
Johnson said the environment statement can be changed only if Ecogen makes substantial changes to the project, including adding or reducing the number of turbines. However, the tax-incentives can be negotiated between the recipients, which include the town, school districts and county.
The Prattsburgh town board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the municipal hall, to further discuss their options with Ed Hourihan, the attorney representing the town in the Ecogen lawsuit.
3/3/12 Wind Farm Strong Arm in St. Croix County
SIGN THEFTS IN TOWN OF FOREST LEAVE SOME RESIDENTS UNERVED
SOURCE: New Richmond News, www.newrichmond-news.com
March 1, 2012
The Town of Forest has been the target for a 102 megawatt wind turbine project that will be comprised of 41 500-foot towers.
Local residents have diligently fought against the project for over a year and a half, even to the point of recalling the all the members of the town board prior to February 2011.
The project is up for approval by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and is supported by the developer, Emerging Energies of Wisconsin LLC, host land owners and various green lobbyist organizations.
The residents opposed to the project formed the Forest Voice LLC and continue to fight against it due to the decline in surrounding property values and adverse health effects the turbines would cause. Until now, the opposing sides have interacted mainly in town meetings, letters to the editor, and posting signs in yards – all legal activities.
The climate is beginning to change by recent activities of theft and vandalism to private property by the pro-wind side. Many residents opposed to the project are now afraid on how much this will escalate and what will happen next.
Some town residents who oppose the Highland Wind Farm Project had “No Wind Turbine” signs stolen off their properties overnight Feb. 12th. At least 29 signs were illegally removed and the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department was notified. An investigation is currently underway.
The developer of the proposed project Emerging Energies of Wisconsin LLC had just announced last week that they were going to drop a $25 million claim against the township in order to create better relations with the Town of Forest. While it is still not known who removed the signs, it was definitely someone that was unhappy with the local opposition to the project.
This is a project that will receive federal subsidies from the Department Of Energy, which of course is (made possible by) our tax dollars. By removing these signs, it is a clear violation of our First Amendment Rights to express our opposition. It is ironic that the various parties supporting it feel it necessary to deny us this right to the point they would illegally trespass on private property to vandalize and steal.
Many of the people that had the signs stolen are now very concerned about the violation of their private property and how far this could escalate.
Over the past year, there have been threats made and reports of unfamiliar vehicles in the township cruising very slowly and observing residences of people known to be in opposition of the wind development.
It is not right that these folks should have to live in fear in their own houses simply because they choose to exercise their First Amendment rights.
Emerging Energies of Wisconsin LLC needs to step up to the plate on this one and assist local law enforcement in apprehending the perpetrators if they truly want to improve relations with the Town of Forest.
A $100 reward is also available for information leading to an arrest.
Jeff Ericson
Town of Forest
The BPRC Research Nerd
in Wind farm, Wisconsin, wind developer, wind energy, wind turbine
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3/2/12 Convey Inevitability: Wind developer's playbook 101
COMMUNITY RELATIONS: Advice to a wind developer
Powerpoint presentation:"Getting to Yimby: Yes! In My Back Yard!"
SOURCE: American Wind Energy Association
Understand host community
Design project with sensitivity
Deploy 3rd party advocate(s)
Demonstrate community’s “ROR”
Recruit opinion leaders
Launch, engage, inform, mitigate
Rally and enable supporters
Convey inevitability
3/1/12 Wisconsin's dirty (electricity) secret: dumping neutral current and ruining lives
STATE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE RURAL HEALTH FOR WIND ENERGY PROJECTS
The Cap Times, host.madison.com 29 February 2012 ~~
Will the Public Service Commission continue to promote dangerous utility practices and sacrifice Wisconsin rural health for big wind profits this March?
Electrical pollution tests conducted by Dave Stetzer at the Shirley Wind Project in Brown County reveal electrical pollution levels to be severely unsafe, not meeting the standards of the World Health Organizations and the Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
By law utilities are allowed to dump 70 percent of the neutral current into the ground, creating deadly health effects which are amplified by wind turbine generation. Had the Electrical Bill of Rights been passed in 2003, this practice would be illegal. But because of the successful lobbying efforts of the utilities and wind developers, legislators turned a blind eye to the harm caused by such electrical dumping on an already-undersized grid. Various IEEE and university studies prove that contact voltage over 20mV (millivolt) is a health concern. Dave Stetzer’s tests reveal 200mV to 600mV contact at faucet to floor on the homes near wind turbines.
Another issue is electromagnetic frequency (EMF) that is created by variable speed wind turbine generators not properly filtered at generation. These EMFs enter the homes and barns via ground contact and power lines. Stetzer’s tests demonstrate that the Shirley wind turbines have amplified the problem to the point that people are experiencing severe health issues. His tests shows EMF radiation exposure between 16 to 25kHz (kilohertz) and IEEE studies prove that anything over 1.7kHz of radiation absorbs internally within our bodies, leading to problems such as cancer and heart disease. Wisconsin has no standards on EMFs.
Dave Stetzer is internationally known for his engineering ability to solve and prevent electrical pollution problems. For more information look on the Internet for Dr. Magda Havas, Dave Stetzer, and electrical pollution-wind turbines.
Jerome Hlinak
Two Rivers
3/1/12 Take action
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Senator Bennett's Amendment # 1709 to the transportation bill that would extend the Production Tax Credit for wind developers has been filed, and negotiations are still on going to determine which amendments are considered
The chance of the PTC amendment coming up for a vote is said to be 50-50.
That can change as the week moves forward, and we should all be concerned that the amendment will come up for a vote.
The best thing we can do is get all the people in your reach to call your Senate offices and urge them to oppose any extension of the wind PTC AND oppose Bennett Amendment # 1709 to the transportation bill.
We should also call Majority Leader Reid and urge opposition.
Call your Senate offices today and urge them to oppose any extension of the wind PTC and oppose Bennett Amendment # 1709 to the Transportation Bill.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: 202-224-2499
Sen. Harry Reid (D) Phone: (202) 224-3542 Fax: 202-224-7327
WISCONSIN:
| Johnson, Ron - (R - WI) | Class III |
| 386 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 | |
| (202) 224-5323 | |
| Web Form: www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact | |
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| Kohl, Herb - (D - WI) | Class I |
| 330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 | |
| (202) 224-5653 | |
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Web Form: www.kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm SPECIAL TO WISCONSIN RESIDENTS: Petition to Wisconsin Legislators Addressing PSC Wind Siting Rules Please Take Action FROM Wisconsin Citizens Coalition
Dear Wisconsin Senators and Representatives: The time is now for the Wisconsin Legislature to take action - directing the Public Service Commission to suspend and rewrite chapter PSC 128 (Wind Siting Rules). These rules were arbitrarily set without consideration for the health, welfare or safety of Wisconsin Citizens and therefore were suspended on March 1, 2011 by the If nothing is done, this suspension will expire in a couple of weeks. Whatever legislative effort is required to stop chapter PSC 128 at this time must be taken. If no action is taken these rules will go into effect and jeopardize the health and safety of Wisconsin citizens across the state. There are several bills in the State Senate and State Assembly that address this issue. Please ask legislative leadership to move these bills forward and schedule a vote. We know that you are receiving information from a number of perspectives on this issue. We are urging you not to buy into the illusions of green energy and jobs Attached are [the names of] more than 700 Wisconsin voters in support of the action this letter respectfully requests. The people of Wisconsin appreciate your consideration, Wisconsin Citizens Coalition “Wisconsin Citizens Coalition” is made up of the following organizations from across the state: BCCRWE, Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy – Brown County CCCRE, Calumet County Citizens for Responsible Energy – Calumet County Concerned Citizens of Smelser & Paris Township, Grant County residents – Grant County Concerned Citizens of Trempealeau County – Trempealeau, Monroe, Rock, La Crosse, and Dane counties Forest Voice – St Croix County Forward Wind Factory Victims Coalition – Fond du Lac County Glenmore Constitutional Coalition – Brown County Western Wisconsin Landowners Alliance – Monroe County WINDCOWS, Wisconsin Independent Citizens Opposing Wind Turbine Sites – Manitowoc & Kewaunee Counties This coalition of citizen groups is the author of the "Wisconsin Citizens Safe Wind Siting Guidelines"
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