Meredith's Vision and the Risks to Communities from Industrial Wind Projects
Kenneth Jaffe, MD|February 6, 2006
Meredith resident Dr. Kenneth Jaffe's presentation to the Town of Meredith Planning Board on the proposed industrial scale wind plant (=> 100 wind turbines, each over 400 feet tall) within the framework of Meredith's recently adopted vision statement that reads:
We must preserve and maintain the Town of Meredith’s historic, agricultural and rural character. We must guide development to meet the economic, social and recreational needs of all residents. We must foster a unified community while maintaining the ambiance of a small rural town with the uniqueness that is Meredith. We must realize this vision in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Editor's Note: Dr. Jaffe's report on the safely issues related to ice throws is available via the link below.
Meredith resident Dr. Kenneth Jaffe's presentation to the Town of Meredith Planning Board on the proposed industrial scale wind plant (=> 100 wind turbines, each over 400 feet tall) within the framework of Meredith's recently adopted vision statement that reads:
We must preserve and maintain the Town of Meredith’s historic, agricultural and rural character. We must guide development to meet the economic, social and recreational needs of all residents. We must foster a unified community while maintaining the ambiance of a small rural town with the uniqueness that is Meredith. We must realize this vision in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Editor's Note: Dr. Jaffe's report on the safely issues related to ice throws is available via the link below.
*SUMMARY
• Current wind-power technology is not mature and not yet able to meet its green goals.
• The urgency to install wind turbines in Meredith is based on enormous federal and state tax subsidies to for-profit power companies, banks, and high income investors.
• Meredith taxpayers are being asked to give a substantial tax subsidy to these investors.
• Both the electricity from a wind project flow into the grid, and almost all of the money from a wind-power project will flow out of Meredith.
• The history of the for-profit power industry in New York should inspire caution.
• There are substantial risks to the town and the townspeople.
• There are risks to our quality of life and economic well-being that can be permanent.
• There are enormous documented risks to property owners, to land values, to tourism, to economic development goals and long term employment of Meredith.
• These risks carry substantial financial impact for all landowners and the town, and should be realistically weighed against predictions of benefit to the town and a few landowners.
• As a town, we have the power to make decisions about industrial wind projects.
• We must protect the vision of the people of Meredith as expressed through the Comprehensive Plan. This includes protecting the viewshed, the rural quiet, and historic resources.
• We have the option of saying that an industrial wind-power project in its present form has no place in Meredith.
• The financial risk to the town should not exceed the possible benefits.
• Public health and safety should be paramount. All regulations should be based on science and be strict enough to protect all of the people, not just the interests of the power companies and their investors.
