We do not believe that the negative consequences are worth the modest
reductions in carbon footprint. We also know that there are other
alternatives that can have a more positive impact on our carbon
footprint and are more compatible with Vermont's scenic beauty, quality
of life and local economy.
Citizens Wind, a for-profit corporation based in Boston, is proposing to
build 20 to 30 utility-scale wind turbines, of up to 450 feet tall, on
the Northfield Ridge. These towers will be taller than any building in
the entire state of Vermont. The town and "hosting" landowners would get
annual payments, based on the amount of electricity generated.
But, while a few may benefit financially, many more would suffer from
the loss of an invaluable natural resource (Northfield Ridge),
destruction of the last remaining large tract of unbroken forest in
Waitsfield, permanent change in the landscape, decreases in property
values and in the ability to enjoy their property on a daily basis.
There is no dispute about the major impact of industrial wind facility
construction. Building wind turbines on Vermont ridgelines requires
constructing roads up to and along the ridgeline capable of holding
200,000-pound components, rotor blades more than 150 feet long and the
massive construction equipment required for site preparation,
transportation and erection of the industrial wind turbines.
Construction requires blasting, potentially using hundreds of thousands
of pounds of explosives, which can negatively impact headwaters that
drain into the Mad River as well as subsurface aquifers. Thousands of
truckloads of aggregate and concrete are required to travel up the
mountain to build the roadbed and turbine bases. Roads of this sort
fragment wildlife habitat and therefore constitute a significant threat
to wildlife, in addition to permanently changing Vermont's beautiful
ridgelines.
Images of such construction are available at the town planning
commission blog http://planwithus.blogspot.com/2010/06/anti-wind.html.
Development projects of the size and type proposed by Citizens Energy
create noise problems specific to industrial wind turbine generators.
There are confirmed, worldwide reports about incessant low-frequency
noise that interferes with sleep and overall well-being, resulting in
health problems so serious that some people have to walk away from their
homes or sell out to wind companies. Livestock are affected as well.
These impacts affect those living as much as two or three miles from
turbine locations. The range and intensity of the noise can be amplified
by terrain, particularly by ridgelines and valleys. The three-megawatt
(MW) turbines being proposed for our community have only been used in
one other location in New England, in an area of Maine that is much more
remote and sparsely populated than the Northfield Ridge. An
installation of 3MW turbines on Northfield Ridge would in effect be an
experimental installation so close to residences.
There are other detrimental impacts such as light pollution in the night
sky from flashing red strobes required on each turbine. Additionally,
the placement of such tall structures atop our ridgeline would have a
negative impact on the Mad River Valley as a premier soaring location
for gliders. The list goes on and on.
Citizens Wind only develops such projects. They will sell any Northfield
Ridge development, at a profit, and would then leave Waitsfield while
the new purchaser would build and operate the facility. Who has the best
long-term interest of Waitsfield and the Mad River Valley at heart?
Those who live, work, raise their families and recreate here, or those
who breeze into town for a short term, seek to develop a protected,
treasured resource and then move on to the next project?
We can let an outside corporation come into Waitsfield and divide our
town, or we can work together to develop energy projects that are
consistent with our quality of life, consistent with Vermont's unique
character, have a greater impact in reducing our carbon footprint and do
not result in destruction of unique and irreplaceable natural
resources. There are other solutions to the pressing need to have a
better energy policy for our community, state and nation. Together, we
will find ones that work for us.
David and Avril Howe live in Waitsfield and submitted this op-ed piece on behalf of the Friends of Northfield Ridge.
