Wind turbine noise problem in Mars Hill (lawyers, to live in)

[GregW]

There are large pumped Storage facilities at Niagara Falls and Blenheim-Gilboa on the Schoharie River. There are hydro plants on nearly all of the NY rivers and they are remotely dispatched (controlled) by the grid operators. Just consider that energy captured by wind machines is coal/oil not burned and water not wasted.

I can agree that there may be some underhandedness but that is to be expected in this political and economic climate. In NH we had a wind power proposal and the town changed the zoning to make tall structures of any kind illegal. Seems to have worked for that town for now, but there is still the zoning appeals process.

The big problem with wind energy is the fact that the machines have to be placed in the windy areas. The people living in these areas object because they generally do not gain from the windmills. I was reading of a development in Denmark where a group of local farmers formed a business and built the windmill with government grants and private loans. These farmers seem willing to put up with the noise etc. because it saves them money directly. Maybe the people of Mars Hill would fuss less if they were getting something out of the deal.

In any case I think that wind machines should be sited and the wind energy captured. If some of the local are really upset, then the developers should offer to buy the locals out at the market value before the development started. This way the locals are compensated for their losses. After all what is a few hundred grand in a multi million dollar project.

If some people are not willing to cut a deal then they can take the trouble or move to someplace without any wind, and streams, any power plants of any kind. I suggest another planet or Bangladesh.

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by JustSayNo

TO both- I have spent the last 13 months researching and battling this issue in my town and State of NY. NY is a home rule state, meaning the local governments make the decisions. The way NY is working is the Planning Board, or special comittee that is form, it supposed to do the research, make a rec. to the Town Board and the Board votes. PROBLEM IS, in many towns across the state memebers of BOTH boards HAVE SIGNED LEASES. Huge conflict of interest. OR, family memember of board members have signed leases. Look up Cherry Valley, Cohocton, or Stamford or Bovina NY. All of these towns have a lot of info on their websites that give you a peek into the dark side of how this happens. Hell, look at Mars Hill-find out what happened in your own state! They got screwed Big-time, they had no idea these were coming until it was so far down the pipleine and they were told sorry you have no say.

Cohocton is the worst, they really are gettin gthe brunt of dirty politicians...

Well, I can't do much about New York, but as a fellow Mainer it bothers me to think bribery, etc. is happening in Maine and I think steps ought to be taken to stop it, past, present and future. Have you or your group spoken with any attornies? I know it costs money but maybe it would be worth it. Are you a native Mainer?

[rabbitlover]

Originally Posted by DavidoftheNorth

Are you sure you guys aren't making a mountain out of a molehill?

People aren't sleeping because of those things, they vibrate people's houses. Keep in mind DavidoftheNorth these are teachers, business people etc. Not some nuts.

[kellysmith]

I've been waiting for the golf course to open in Mars Hill to check out for myself what the impact of the windmills are. Well, today was the day. I was expecting to hear the whirring of the windmills. On the sixth hole of the golf course the tee is part way up the mountain. I will report that I heard nothing. Three windmills were not turning. I counted 16 that were visible from the golf course. I bet I get slammed for posting, but shedding some light on the subject...then you decide. I played 18 holes today and not once did I hear anything from any of the windmills. The golf course is cut into the side of the mountain. Downtown Mars Hill is two miles west. I think the windmill noise is not a major problem to 99.9% of the folks in Mars Hill. I had anticipated hating the windmills and how they would spoil the view from the golf course...add in the noise and I was on board that it was a bad thing.
After witnessing it for myself, I think the windmills are a problem for a handful of houses...maybe 5 or 6...maybe not even that many. Go ahead rip me for saying so...I didn't see any problem from the golf course...and I'd love to live there!!

[LagasseGreen]

It could be that a FEW people are effected. That means all concerns were not met by the company. Let's say I buy the house next to yours and buy a gasoline generator that is loud. I then use it to fully power my home. At night when I turn on my lights the generator starts and you a 5 neighbors get to listen as I pull an all nighter reading. It's only affecting 5 people so "Get over it". "Move if you don't like it." "I don't care if you moved to this neighborhood because it WAS quite." "Get over it." The people 6 houses down can't hear it and don't stay up all night or have to listen to it all day when sunning by the pool. "Live with it or move". Get the point!!!! I sometimes think that Windmills are placed in locations that will raise issues like this so the OIL/Nuclear/Coal moguls can control us even more than they already do.

[rabbitlover]

Originally Posted by kellysmith

I've been waiting for the golf course to open in Mars Hill to check out for myself what the impact of the windmills are. Well, today was the day. I was expecting to hear the whirring of the windmills. On the sixth hole of the golf course the tee is part way up the mountain. I will report that I heard nothing. Three windmills were not turning. I counted 16 that were visible from the golf course. I bet I get slammed for posting, but shedding some light on the subject...then you decide. I played 18 holes today and not once did I hear anything from any of the windmills. The golf course is cut into the side of the mountain. Downtown Mars Hill is two miles west. I think the windmill noise is not a major problem to 99.9% of the folks in Mars Hill. I had anticipated hating the windmills and how they would spoil the view from the golf course...add in the noise and I was on board that it was a bad thing.
After witnessing it for myself, I think the windmills are a problem for a handful of houses...maybe 5 or 6...maybe not even that many. Go ahead rip me for saying so...I didn't see any problem from the golf course...and I'd love to live there!!

Yeah, well it doesn't bother you so it shouldn't bother anyone, right? That is pretty selfish. 22 households/landowners aren't five or six houses..

[rabbitlover]

Originally Posted by GregW

There are large pumped Storage facilities at Niagara Falls and Blenheim-Gilboa on the Schoharie River. There are hydro plants on nearly all of the NY rivers and they are remotely dispatched (controlled) by the grid operators. Just consider that energy captured by wind machines is coal/oil not burned and water not wasted.

I can agree that there may be some underhandedness but that is to be expected in this political and economic climate. In NH we had a wind power proposal and the town changed the zoning to make tall structures of any kind illegal. Seems to have worked for that town for now, but there is still the zoning appeals process.

The big problem with wind energy is the fact that the machines have to be placed in the windy areas. The people living in these areas object because they generally do not gain from the windmills. I was reading of a development in Denmark where a group of local farmers formed a business and built the windmill with government grants and private loans. These farmers seem willing to put up with the noise etc. because it saves them money directly. Maybe the people of Mars Hill would fuss less if they were getting something out of the deal.

In any case I think that wind machines should be sited and the wind energy captured. If some of the local are really upset, then the developers should offer to buy the locals out at the market value before the development started. This way the locals are compensated for their losses. After all what is a few hundred grand in a multi million dollar project.

If some people are not willing to cut a deal then they can take the trouble or move to someplace without any wind, and streams, any power plants of any kind. I suggest another planet or Bangladesh.

Has one coal/oil plant been shut down because of wind mills?

IF these things are so great, why does it take petroleum based products to grease the gears etc?

[kellysmith]

RabbitLover,
So explain to me why my spending an afternoon on Mars Hill mountain and reporting that try as I may, I was unable to detect one sound of a windmill makes me selfish? I spent four hours there today too, and didn't hear anything. I also asked quite a few Mars Hill residents that I saw at the golf course what all the fuss was about..and to a person they said it was four or five families that were complaining. I would add that they also said the loudest voices were from "away"..but I won't since that would make me biased as well as selfish!...and where is all the cheap land up on the mountain. I'm interested in a fire sale. I see one 50 acre plot advertised for $395,000...142 acres for $950,000...several 21 acre plots for $79,000. Someone thinks the windmills are not a problem..other than me!

[JustSayNo]

And so it begins.......It repeats over and over in every town across America that the wind barons invade. It is so sad, and sickening, that THIS is what starts to happens among towns people, friends, relatives. The wound these TURBINES cut is far deeper than noise, flicker, RE value. It opens up the personal comments, the "they are whiners" "they are selfish" comments.

It completely changes the face and feel of a town faster than the wind gusts. I bet anything 20 years from now everyone will REGRET the improper procedures, siting, and mamgement of the white elelphants in town. They will have NOT solved the energy issue and they WILL have completely changed and damamged a town's mentality and empathy for one another FOREVER.

This all makes me so sad, in this world that gets more scary and more dangerious, we all should be coming together, helping one another, and getting back to basic common good human behavior. Insteed, we are all pawns on a chess board, our lives controlled and ruined by the Wind Barons laughing their butts off at us as we eliminate the ONE thing that can control them-TEAMWORK and concern for our neighbors and friends.

I saw it here, I see it in other towns. In our small, friendly town everyone eyes up everyone now...are they for or against. It goes as far as personal threats being made against family and animals...so GD SICK, all for power of money in the pockets of a few.

[DavidoftheNorth]

Where were you guys while it was in the process of being permitted? It's kinda late now, don't you think?