The Lyme planning board is meeting in joint session tonight with the town board to consider the changes advocated by Jefferson County planners to our proposed law. I am considering drafting an amendment to require the wind developer to provide, prior to obtaining any approvals to proceed, a detailed analysis demonstrating the net energy savings and the net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that they estimate might be achieved by the proposed installation. The amendment will also require an estimate of the full cost per KW and the total amount invested per KW to achieve such claimed benefits including the value of all direct subsidies and tax breaks received from federal, state, and local governments. In addition it would include the investment and operating costs for facilities provided by or operated by the utility such as transmission facilities for wind energy and standby equipment to supply power when the wind turbines do not provide the required capacity.
Wind developers claim all sorts of advantages for the public good, but unless these are quantified, neither the public or its elected officials can make a reasoned judgement as to the balance between such claimed advantages and the known disadvantages of wind power including the use of large amounts of land, destruction of wildlife and its habitat, spoiling of scenic views, interference with air traffic, noise, and flicker effects. The onus should be placed on the developers to prove the value of these facilities. We should not be placed in the position of having to disprove their widely accepted general statements as to the value of these facilities. Wind energy facilities should be subjected to the same rigorous cost/benefit analyses as any other major investment.
Tonight's meeting is for the specific purpose of incorporating the county's comments in our proposed law and may not be the best time for such an amendment. What are your thoughts about this idea?
Bert
Albert H. Bowers III
Naval Architect & Maritime Consultant
PO Box 177
11891 Academy Street
Chaumont, NY 13622-0177
315-649-2191
315-408-8507 cellular
bertna@twcny.rr.com
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