DEC
regulations label wind project impacts "intolerable"
Let's be perfectly
clear. The only way to "mitigate" problems associated with
industrial wind turbines is to make sure the projects do
not go up within residential areas in the first place. As
reported in a recent Daily News letter ("Think big on wind
energy" by David Bassett, May 20, 2009) , the U.S.
Department of Energy admitted when these immense machines
were being developed that they were intended for placement
in the remote, unpopulated areas of the Midwest, and
offshore -- not amongst rural/residential areas like that
of WNY.
July 29, 2009 in Daily News
On Aug. 10 there will be another public hearing
on Horizon's proposed industrial wind project in the Town
of Perry. This time it is to assess Horizon's Supplemental
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS).
Horizon claims it has "mitigated" the impacts of the Dairy
Hills project because it has reduced the number of proposed
turbines from 80 to 38. The reality, however, is that the
impacts remain the same for those stuck living within the
footprint of the proposed project, while all NYS residents
will still be footing the bill for this poster child of
corporate welfare.
One of Horizon's most ridiculous SDEIS claims is that "All
area residences are well outside of the 6 dBA cumulative
increase threshold suggested by the NYS DEC guideline."
Talk about "spin"! This is just plain false!
Independent noise expert Rick Bolton testified at a public
meeting here in Perry that our rural country settings
currently enjoy extremely quiet night-time noise levels of
approximately 25 dBA. The proposed 50 dBA level doubles our
current ambient noise levels.
The NYS DEC clearly states
in its "Assessing and Mitigating Noise Impacts" report,
that an increase of 20 dBA will be "Intolerable."
Furthermore, the DEC Noise Guidelines make no consideration
for low-frequency noise, known as "infrasound." Retired PSC
Noise Engineer for Power Projects Dan Driscoll testified
that "infrasound" is the problem with these industrial wind
installations.
In nearby Sheldon, independent noise expert Rick James
recently tested a resident's home who lives in the same
proximity to the project as is being proposed here in
Perry. Sound levels within the home registered at 71 dBA.
Former industrial wind supporter in Cohocton, Town Justice
Hal Graham, stated in a recent article that sound levels on
the way to his mailbox are 100 dBA.
With these kinds of testimonies increasingly coming in from
residents already stuck living near these projects, why
would anyone believe Horizon's self-serving report?
Let's be perfectly clear. The only way to "mitigate"
problems associated with industrial wind turbines is to
make sure the projects do not go up within residential
areas in the first place.
As reported in a recent Daily News letter ("Think big on
wind energy" by David Bassett, May 20, 2009) , the U.S.
Department of Energy admitted when these immense machines
were being developed that they were intended for placement
in the remote, unpopulated areas of the Midwest, and
offshore -- not amongst rural/residential areas like that
of WNY.
The crux of the problem with industrial wind remains the
same: It is the very businessmen and investment banks who
stand to make "obscene" profits at all taxpayers' and
ratepayers' expense who claim wind power will reduce CO2
emissions and thereby reduce global warming. To date
however, the wind industry and its promoters have not been
able to substantiate their financially-motivated claims
with any proof.
Thomas Hewson Jr. and David Pressman of Energy Ventures
Analysis Inc. distilled the issue perfectly in their July
2009 Power Engineering article, "Calculating Wind Power's
Environmental Benefits," when they wrote, "Wind's
unpredictability means it truly has no generating capacity
value, and its construction will not displace building any
new coal or natural gas generating capacity.
Grid reserve margins require wind back up, and the
inefficiency of quickly firing up a natural gas unit to
meet erratic wind generation output means any emissions
displacement is minimal. Wind is simply an additional
capital cost which proves to be more than twice as
expensive for the ratepayer."
When the only goal becomes the pursuit of a few bucks, and
is considered more important than the health, safety, and
quality of life of our friends and neighbors, we all lose
as we stand by and allow our moral and ethical principles
to be erased by greed. NYS taxpayers and ratepayers must
stand up and speak out before further economic,
environmental, health and cultural devastation is wrought
on our fellow citizens and NYS landscapes -- all for
naught!
Come to the Perry public hearing at the Perry Public High
School at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. Tell our elected
officials that we are tired of being bullied and lied to by
mega-corporations in pursuit of their bottom line. The
health, safety, and quality of life of our fellow residents
is not for sale.
Web link: Mary Kay Barton"