Yes, it is a great law and I will tell you why. When my husband and I started this fight in our town, we approached it from a MONEY standpoint. Farmers are an independent bunch, and don't like being told what they can and can't do with their land. That's why you see so many sign up for the leases, for the MONEY. Their bottom line usually contains a fair amount of red ink, and a few thousand dollars for doing “nothing” sounds pretty good.
However, in our research, we came across issues that spoke loud and clear to the fact that turbines are not good for our town. Stray voltage was top on the list. $22 per hundred-weight is a great price for milk, unless your herd is affected by stray voltage. Production goes down, health issues arise, and your milk check get smaller. So much for the “extra” money from turbines! If your farm isn't productive, the value could drop - affecting the tax base, among other things.
Another issue, very important to us as well as our Mennonite neighbors, is the lack of control over your own property once a lease is signed. When we found out that a wind company can tell you you can't build that new silo or heifer barn because it impacts THEIR wind, or that their reps can drive on your property 24/7 (including Sundays and Christmas if they like), alarm bells sounded. I am not sure if you are familiar with Mennonites, but their lives are built around their faith, and Sundays and religious holidays are days of rest. Only the necessary chores are done, and they do not generally interact with the “English” neighbors on those days other than to wave as they pass by in their buggies on the way to church.
2000 ft setback in our town severely limits where these turbines can go, as there are 40 dairy farms surrounded by single family homes, Mennonite one room schoolhouses and churches , the Marcus Whitman school district buildings, and hobby farmettes. There are very, very few large plots of land owned by cash crop farmers (who DO want them in our town) that can meet the parameters of the law.
300 feet height includes the blades, and that restricts using alot of the current technology. Shadow flicker and noise levels are moot points if the damn things never get erected.
Yes, we DO have GUTS here in Gorham. Our town leaders came up with a law that will help us to avoid litigation because the wind farms are not completely outlawed. At the same time, they will be extremely difficult to site. The law protects all landowners, whether you won a doublewide on an acre lot or 300 acre dairy farm.
That is why it is a great law. Any questions?
Debbie North, Gorham, NY
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