CSAB Presentations to Town of Barre Board
At the August 14, 2019 Town of Barre Board meeting, Clear Skies Above Barre presented some of the numerous reasons why we oppose the Heritage Wind project proposed by Apex.
Too many unknowns
We are unsure of the locations and size of the proposed Industrial Wind Turbines. We do not know how much electricity would be produced, or who will ultimately own and operate the proposed project. When will we know and how can we trust what is said when there have been so many changes?
Zoning
We have zoning laws that prohibit properties like car dealerships, superstores, and warehouses from being built in our agricultural residential community, so need to apply the same to Industrial Wind Turbines. What precedence would this set for future development?
Industrial Wind is NOT Agriculture
Industrial Wind Turbines are monitored by the Department of Public Service, not Agriculture and Markets. They generate electricity from wind, which is not cultivated and, therefore, cannot be harvested. Yet, the Industrial Wind Turbines do use viable agricultural land - over 53 acres of agricultural land is lost in the Heritage Wind proposal.
Opposition to Industrial Wind does NOT correlate to not supporting agriculture.
2019 Town of Barre Wind Ordinance
"The total tip height for each wind energy conversion unit cannot exceed 500 feet as measured from the base of the unit to the tip of the unit's longest blade."
State Infrastructure Will Not Support
The upstate grid is 87% carbon emission free energy while the downstate grid is only 28% carbon emission free. NYS is full of electric transmission bottlenecks that limit the flow of electricity from upstate to downstate. 80% of the state's transmission lines were built before 1980.
“Absent investment to expand the transfer capability of the bulk power system, investment in renewables in upstate load zones runs the risk of bringing diminishing returns in terms of progress toward both renewable energy production and carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals. This is largely because nearly 90% of the energy produced in upstate New York already is derived from carbon-free resources. Because load in the region is not projected to grow, the addition of new renewable resources increasingly displaces other sources of clean generation in the region.” - 2019 Power Trends
Which means HIGHER STATE TAXES and HIGHER ELECTRIC BILLS.
This is NOT a Property Rights Issue
"Town of Barre Zoning Ordinance 350-29: Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to provide comprehensive time, place and manner restrictions on signage, including, but not limited to, controls on size, height, quantity, location, spacing, shape, lighting, motion, design and appearance for the purpose of promoting community aesthetics, traffic safety, economic development and the protection of property values... B(3) Signs shall be informative, enhance the rural character of the community, and shall be consistent with the Town of Barre Comprehensive Plan..."
We have Zoning Ordinances to protect our agricultural residential community, and if we have ordinances such as these about signs, we need to apply the same values with which these were written to Industrial Wind Turbines.
Furthermore, the Purpose of the Town of Barre Zoning Ordinance states,
"Section 101 Purpose... 1. To protect the open, rural, and natural character of the land."
Health Risks
Madison County, Iowa is #2 in the country for Industrial Wind Turbines, and they have resolved:
“Resolved that the Madison County Board of Health determines that there is the potential for negative health affects associated with commercial wind turbines and that current setbacks are inadequate to protect the public health. The Board encourages those entities with jurisdiction within the County to require a one and one-half (1-1/2) mile setback from non-participating residences for future wind turbine projects.”
They have the experience with Industrial Wind Turbines, so we would be wise to listen to their expertise.
Environmental Impacts
Coming soon. In the meantime, see our Frequently Asked Questions page and our suggested Talking Points about environmental impacts.
Decreased Property Values
Coming soon. In the meantime, see our Frequently Asked Questions page and our suggested Talking Points about property values.
Corporate Ethics
Coming soon. In the meantime, see these links about how Apex has proven they have questionable character.