Editor:
The new zoning law passed this Sept. 23 with wind turbine setbacks of 700 feet from your property line. Other towns like nearby Wales opted for setbacks of 2,000 feet.
While we have nothing against our current Town Board members personally, in fact as neighbors we may even know and like some of them. We feel that they completely disregarded various documented studies on health issues, property values, etc. as provided by our citizens at the public hearing in May. We feel that they are not representing the average smaller property owner fairly. Passing this zoning law heavily favors the interest of large landowners who stand to gain most from siting these 450-foot industrial wind turbines on their property. Many of these landowners do not live in Orangeville and will gain financially. This is one reason vacant property is being bought by speculators. The rest of us will have to deal with ever increasing assessments and property taxes.
Other than Supervisor (Susan) May, all the other Town Board members will benefit from this law crafted with the assistance of Invenergy. They get the "windfall," small property owners get to live 700 feet from the turbines with the noise, flicker, potential health effects for some people and plummeting property values. Is this fair representation for everyone from our Town Board? I think not! Recent studies have shown that property values will go down 20 percent to 40 percent anywhere near a wind farm. It will take years of lower town taxes (not county or school) to make up the loss in property values. It has been documented that in fact there is no guarantee that any money received by the town would be applied to our taxes. It would make more sense to do what they do in Alaska and send the residents a check annually. It would then be our choice to spend the money to pay our taxes, buy a new truck or go on vacation.
The turbines are heavily subsidized by the federal and state governments (that's you and me) and that's the only reason they are at all profitable. In fact nearly 90 percent of the electric produced by wind turbines is sold at a loss. The money is in the tax credits and subsidies coming out of our pocket. The wind company in Cohocton just received $74 million in federal stimulus funds. Our grandchildren will have to pay back this monumental deficit down the road.
Talk to people in Sheldon and Whethersfield about what it is like to live among 400-foot turbines. Ask the town supervisors if they have any guarantees that the money will keep flowing after the bailout money drys up. Will our grandchildren have to foot the bill to dismantle and take these things down?
Why does Invenergy have way more signed contracts than the proposed 59 turbines indicate? Why does Invenergy keep requesting permission to New York State to construct 90 turbines in Orangeville? Why did our Town Board refuse to include a district overlay plan in the zoning law as the Town of Leicester has to restrict number and location as specified in the Town of Orangeville's Comprehensive Plan? A district overlay plan keeps the power to expand in the hands of our elected officials not the big corporations. This is recommended by the state to be considered in all new zoning laws. When will phase II begin?
The only thing we can do to change this is to vote and elect Steve Moultrup, Mary Jo Hopkins and Darryl Dickinson. If you care about Orangeville this is our last chance -- vote! vote! vote! Nov. 3.
Carolyn Dreyer-Lambright
Orangeville
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