One of the reasons that The Valley is so beautiful has been a long-term
emphasis on context sensitive design. Ten years ago, the cell phone
industry was telling us that if we wanted cell service we had to accept
cell towers as they wanted them, and that for the sake of efficiency,
they couldn't be put in places that didn't mar the landscape. That, of
course, wasn't true, and because we didn't accept it, we were able to
get cell service and maintain our character.
I agree wholeheartedly with the recent Valley Reporter editorial
that it is critical that we shift our energy use away from fossil fuels
but that it needs to be done with foresight and planning. As was the
case with cell phones, we can enjoy the benefits of new technologies
without degrading our local environment.
Route 100 is The Valley's front yard. The in-your-face siting of the
Yestermorrow and Kingsbury Farm solar panels shows how critical it is to
have effective planning and controls, and that without them, the
actions of a few can offset years and years of efforts by many.
Geoff Slater
Fayston
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