Roxbury voters are at a fork in the road. They can ignore the loophole-filled promises of free electricity and property tax savings and vote to keep the ridges free from gigantic arm-waving machines, or they can cave in to the lure of easy money and sell Roxbury's soul to the industrial wind "farmers." But let's not fool ourselves that the sacrifice of Roxbury's scenic vistas is justified to curb global warming, or to replace fossil fuel-burning power plants, or reduce dependence on foreign oil, because none of these things will happen. But don't take my word for it.

Both developers of wind farms in the town of Cape Vincent have asked for a quick conclusion to the wind law committee's work. Well, what a surprise. The developers thought that the town had been bought and paid for and now that the town fathers are giving the appearance of concern toward the citizens they serve, the developers are becoming impatient.

I hope the first order of business for the committee is to abolish the rules that prohibit public attendance or participation and free speech of committee members. I would point out that it was the public who brought these issues to the attention of the board and proved the case for changes on the merits. In large part, problems with the law stem from lack of public involvement. Though procedure was followed, the lack of public education or transparency to the greater weight given to developers' needs leaves the law fatally flawed.

We sometimes find ourselves so desperate that we are like dogs at the foot of the table begging for scraps and we will take whatever is thrown to us. Is this worth tearing up our mountains? Something that barely works? Barely may be pushing it. Instead, let's tear up a ridgeline to develop something that won't even keep the lights on a consistent basis to the homes at the foot of Laurel Mountain. Call me selfish, but I prefer these mountains that surround this area to remain untouched.

Turitea Wind Farm has been a controversial topic since it first became public and this newspaper has challenged and questioned how residents were consulted, why the decision was made, what it means and to share our readers' varied viewpoints. ...Adequate and proper consultation is required even if the decision at the end of the day is to go ahead with plans to turn the area into an abundant wind resource. That's all we are asking for, a voice.

“I want to hear from the public,” Anderson said. “That is what I want to hear. I represent the Bluefield area, and I need their input. I want the people in my district to know what’s going on ... Hardly no one spoke at the first public hearing, and we didn’t act on it. “ Anderson’s plea for public input is vital — and much appreciated. All too often people do not speak up about public issues until it is too late. The issue of building large windmills along the crest of East River Mountain has the potential to blow into a furious debate.

The problem with the green revolution argument is that it doesn't trouble itself about efficiency. It is most often lauded for supplying new jobs, but billions of dollars in tax subsidies would create plenty of new jobs in almost any sector. The point is that many less-capital-intensive sectors would create many more jobs for a given investment of taxpayers' money. Similarly, green initiatives will open new markets only if other nations subsidize inefficient technologies bought abroad. Thus, the real game becomes which nations get to suck up other nations' tax-financed subsidies. Apart from the resulting global inefficiency, this also creates a whole new raft of industry players that will keep pushing inefficient legislation simply because it fills their coffers.

Despite continuing opposition from area residents, Summerside City Council continues to move forward with its plans for a wind farm in St. Eleanors. ...It's time for this council to listen to those who elected them to office. The message could not be any clearer. Don't put corporate interests ahead of the health and well being of residents. Find another site.

Perhaps the most insidious damage has only just begun. In this small, close-knit community, divisiveness has already taken hold. Many residents fear that their neighbors will sign leases without realizing how it may affect the rest of the township. Friends, relatives and neighbors are taking sides. Citizens are losing faith in a local governing board that seems to have taken the dive without checking the dangers first.

Coast Guard commander Raymond Perry should be ashamed of himself for his obvious bow to pressure from above ... He plainly contradicts himself by saying from one side of his mouth that the Cape Wind project is "doable" and proposes "no significant problem for marine radar" while saying from the other side that "it would be very difficult for one vessel to see another" while inside the 25-square-mile "farm." That sure sounds like a "significant problem" to me!

But the launch of the Freedom turbines brings old adages to mind: "Buyer beware" and "the devil is in the details" ...Freedom threw out its commercial ordinance to make way for the windmills, leaving residents with no legal recourse should the sunny predictions of the developers fall short. It is also worth asking if Waldo County should welcome power plants selling exclusively out of state.

I am writing as a private citizen to respectfully request that you consider supporting a repeal of the act (SB 566) which allows land-based industrial wind turbines to be built without a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) being required.

We, the Concerned Citizens of Allegany, are concerned our Allegany Town Planning Board will not act in the best interest of our residents. The board is in the process of reviewing an application for 32 wind turbines to be erected on 7,000 acres of land in Chipmonk (see www.everpower.com/allegany.html).

With growing concern, we read the report of radiologist Dr. Michael Nissenbaum's testimony about adverse health effects of wind farms, which are amplified over bodies of water. This is because First Wind is seeking permission from LURC to erect 17 wind turbines within a mile of Upper and Lower Hot Brook Lakes, just west of the Danforth town line which goes down the middle of the lakes.

The tribes have voiced serious concerns that the construction of the 25-square-mile Cape Wind project would destroy ancient burial grounds on Horseshoe Shoal. ...Let's hope that the Obama administration, in its efforts to engender hope and change, will make a commitment to protect the sovereign interests of "The People of the First Light."

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is proposing $85 million in tax breaks to create jobs in solar energy, methane gas, and wind energy. According to the governor, we're going to have a whole new manufacturing sector building solar power plants and wind turbines, and his tax breaks will bring those new jobs to Minnesota. Isn't that a good idea? No. It's a bad idea.

But when quizzed by a shareholder about why they were selling off such good assets - selling the things investors had bought into BBW to own - BBW came up with entirely new reasons. Now BBW says the Spanish wind farm operation is a dog - a low-yielding asset that didn't produce and economic return. That's a little at odds with the glowing picture painted in previous reports. I'm not sure it was the smartest thing to say when the sale hasn't settled yet.

The Green Mountain National Forest released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Deerfield Wind Project in September and we will accept public comment until Friday. ...I look forward to more feedback on our DEIS. As the final information and opinions flow in, I know this is an important decision and it will weigh heavily on my mind.

What the Scarborough fiasco showed is the lie behind environmentalist and media claims that opinion polling shows the public virtually unanimous in support of "green" energy. ...And if environmentalists think they can win those battles simply by flooding the zone, as they did in Scarborough this week, rather than through reasoned debate, they're sadly mistaken.