Write a Letter!

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Writing a letter or editorial can be daunting, but it is essential to voice your opposition before it is too late. Below are some talking points to include and spark your thoughts. Some letter-writing tips:

• Give examples or stories that directly relate to this project and our town, families, neighbors, and local businesses.

• Letters that address just one or two topics at a time are most helpful. So write multiple letters!

• When possible, send your correspondence by BOTH email and regular mail. 

• Over 53 acres of agricultural land in Barre will be lost by the proposed Heritage Wind project.
• The highest average wind speeds in the United States are found along seacoasts, on ridge lines, and on the Great Plains [1]. Barre is located in none of those places.
• Industrial wind turbines cause noise pollution, and noise pollution disturbs sleep and contributes to cardiovascular disease, as acknowledged by the World Health Organization [2]. 
• Industrial Wind Turbines cause shadow flicker effect. Apex has proposed turbines 650-680' in height - the tallest in the entire United States - which will produce more shadow flicker. More shadow flicker means more consequences.
• Industrial Wind Turbines will have red flashing lights throughout the night.
• Construction of turbines would have negative effects on local roads and infrastructure, as well as traffic and quiet living. 
• The amount of energy that would be generated is not enough to justify them in our community or justify the amount of energy they use when wind is not at required speeds. 
• Dangers include ice throws, electromagnetic interference, fires, possible ground water contamination, lightening strikes, and stray voltage. 
• Bats are a natural pesticide in our region that are necessary to farming and wind turbines kill bats in alarming numbers! 
• There are other green options that are more environmentally friendly. The Champlain Hudson Power Express is just one example. 
• Other renewables have great potential and need to be developed. For instance, as our country gets ready to replace tens of thousands of bridges, we could plan for underpasses to capture highway wind. The EPA is already studying the idea [15]. 

• Industrial wind turbines cause noise pollution, and noise pollution disturbs sleep and contributes to cardiovascular disease, as acknowledged by the World Health Organization [2].  
• The World Health Organization concluded that the average risk for depression is increased by a rate of 40% in people who are affected by shadow flicker [6].
• People who live or work in close proximity to Industrial Wind Turbines have experienced symptoms that include decreased quality of life, annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, headache, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction [3]. 
• The above symptoms, whether directly or indirectly connected to living in close proximity to wind turbines, result in indirect health impacts that are dangerous to our health. For example, not sleeping well can increase your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes [4] and stress can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes [5]. 
• Current setbacks are inadequate to protect public health. The Madison County Board of Health, #2 in the country for wind turbines, recommends that setbacks should be at least one and a half miles from non-participating residences [12]. 
• Judges in the Article 10 process told another Industrial Wind company that they should adhere to WHO recommendations. We demand the same, at the very least!  "Based on the World Health Organization’s findings, the judges recommend a 40-decibel long term limit outdoors, 30 decibels indoors and a short term, eight-hour, outdoor limit of 42 decibels for residents that do not participate in the project and 50 decibels for those that do [16]."

• Lower property values! Wind companies say this is is not the case, but common sense and independent scientists and certified appraisers agree that property values decrease. Why would we take the word of the company trying to sell us the wind turbines?
• "Real estate sale data typically reveals a range of 25% to approximately 40% of value loss, with some instances of total loss as measured by abandonment and demolition of homes, some bought out by wind energy developers and others exhibiting nearly complete loss of marketability [9]."
• Study has shown that wind turbines have reduced the value of real estate in two New York State counties [14]. And the turbines in this study are much smaller than the ones proposed in Barre.
• In a letter to our own Town of Barre Board, a new resident of Barre stated, "If we had known that there was a possibility that the tallest wind turbines on land in America would be 900 feet from our property line, if we had known that there would be five in a half mile radius of our home, I assure you that we would not have been fine with it and we would not have moved here [7]."
• "A piece of property, after all, is just what someone is willing to pay for it. Markets are about supply and demand, and all things being equal, why would somebody choose to buy a home with an industrial wind farm nearby? [8]."
• Click here for more resources about how Industrial Wind Turbines lower property values. 

• Bats are a natural pesticide in our region that are necessary to farming and wind turbines kill bats in alarming numbers!
• ~500,000 birds are killed each year by wind turbines. Bird mortality rates increase in migratory paths (which Barre is in) and with turbine height because as turbines increase in size, the blades reach higher into the flight zone of nocturnal migrating birds [11]. 
• The proximity of the proposed Industrial Wind Turbines to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is concerning. Two pairs of bald eagles have established nests on the refuge and it is home to 266 other species of birds and 42 species of mammals [10]. 
• Low sound frequency and infrasound likely have negative effects on livestock and wildlife [13]. 
• The Orleans County Federation of Sportsman's Clubs recognizes the environmental and wildlife concerns and has gone on record as being opposed to the proposed Heritage Wind project. 

• The Town of Barre website says, "Living in the quiet town of Barre, you will find country roads, small churches, friendly neighbors, and some of the best chicken barbecues around. A short drive from the larger cities makes Barre a desirable place to live." And we agree! We have something special here in our quiet town and we want to keep it that way!
• Our town is roughly ~55 square miles of flat land with ~2,200 people living here. This project is better suited for a less populated area, not on top of homes. 
• Section 101 of the Town of Barre Zoning Ordinance states its purpose,"1. To protect the open, rural, and natural character of the land."
• The proposed size of the Industrial Wind Turbines are taller than any building in Western New York State and would be the tallest on land in the entire country. 
• Industrial Wind Turbines would overwhelm our trees, silos, and church steeples. They would forever change the beautiful, rural character of the region.