On Tuesday night, Oct. 9, members of the Potter County Planning Commission are scheduled to take action on an ordinance to control construction of wind turbines in the county.

Generating electricity from the wind sounds wonderful on its face. It's symbolic of the "green energy" movement that is commendable and long overdue in our nation.

But don't be fooled!

Construction of giant wind turbines in Potter County, as proposed by the international energy giant, AES Corporation, is an example of the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.

To take advantage of generous tax advantages from the state and federal governments, companies such as AES are looking to exploit areas where there are no meaningful restrictions on wind turbines. They're also looking for areas where citizens lack the political
will to protect themselves.

Potter County is running out of time.

Now before the Planning Commission is a proposed amendment to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

At the Oct. 9 meeting (6 p.m., Planning Office at Maple View), the commission is poised to decide critical issues on the regulation of wind turbines.

Unless the people are heard, commission members could pass an ordinance that is especially accommodating to the wind industry. In fact, AES Corporation itself has provided the commission with an extensive list of "suggestions" for Potter County's ordinance.

Our county and its citizens need protection - not a weak ordinance that is literally made-to-order for one of the world's energy goliaths.

There is not sufficient space in a letter to the editor for a point-by-point review of the proposals now before the Planning Commission.

Critical issues such as setbacks from adjacent properties, turbine height and environmental protection are among the issues the Planning Commission is considering.

It's time for the public to be heard. If we remain silent, we could open the door for exploitation: constant noise, day and night; irreparable damage to our groundwater resources and disruption of surface
landscape; human health and safety risks - and the list goes on.

We owe it to future generations not to sit idly by as the wind energy companies target Potter County.

We can act today, or we can spend decades wishing that we would have.

Joan Sampson
Ulysses