NH's Newfound Lake Region Association advocates for State-wide moratorium on commercial wind farm projects
Newfound Lake Region Association|Board of Trustees|December 17, 2012
First and most urgently, NLRA will reach out to our political representatives to advocate for a State-wide moratorium on commercial wind farm projects until the 2002 NH Energy Plan has been updated and the Site Evaluation Committee review and approval criteria revised. The Senate filing deadline is December 21, 2012.
First and most urgently, NLRA will reach out to our political representatives to advocate for a State-wide moratorium on commercial wind farm projects until the 2002 NH Energy Plan has been updated and the Site Evaluation Committee review and approval criteria revised. The Senate filing deadline is December 21, 2012.
Established in 1971, the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) has been protecting Newfound Lake and its watershed, inspecting boats for invasive species, testing lake and stream water quality, combating stormwater pollution, conserving land, and assisting Towns with land-use planning for 41 years.
The recently proposed Wild Meadows wind project in Alexandria, Danbury, and Grafton and an application to install meteorological test towers in Groton remind us how vulnerable the watershed is to development. While believing in the value of fossil-free energy, the NLRA Board is concerned about the scale of the proposed project and its potential impacts on environmental and scenic values around Newfound Lake. Before stating our position on the …
Established in 1971, the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA) has been protecting Newfound Lake and its watershed, inspecting boats for invasive species, testing lake and stream water quality, combating stormwater pollution, conserving land, and assisting Towns with land-use planning for 41 years.
The recently proposed Wild Meadows wind project in Alexandria, Danbury, and Grafton and an application to install meteorological test towers in Groton remind us how vulnerable the watershed is to development. While believing in the value of fossil-free energy, the NLRA Board is concerned about the scale of the proposed project and its potential impacts on environmental and scenic values around Newfound Lake. Before stating our position on the Wild Meadows project, the Board sought information and guidance from State regulatory agencies; legal counsel; representatives and legislators; planning experts; Town officials; State, regional and national conservation organizations; and NLRA members.
In keeping with the approach it has taken for nearly half a century, NLRA will coordinate with Towns and citizens to realize the region's shared principles. The Board has identified a preliminary action plan consisting of three areas where it can best influence the outcomes of commercial wind proposals for the Newfound watershed.
First and most urgently, NLRA will reach out to our political representatives to advocate for a State-wide moratorium on commercial wind farm projects until the 2002 NH Energy Plan has been updated and the Site Evaluation Committee review and approval criteria revised. The Senate filing deadline is December 21, 2012. Please add your voices to this debate by contacting your local legislators and expressing your opinion (contact information and sample language are provided at the end of this letter).
Second, NLRA has attended presentations by and is in communication with the principals of NH Wind Watch, a Newfound region organization. Information about NH Wind Watch initiatives in response to the Wild Meadows project is available at https://nhwindwatch.org/. Additional commercial wind industry information can be found at American Wind Energy Association https://www.awea.org/.
Third, NLRA expects to maintain an ongoing role in hosting expert speakers for public forums so that balanced and accurate information is readily available to all interested parties. NLRA is currently working with the Lakes Region Planning Commission to present a public workshop early in 2013. In the meantime, the following links provide examples of policies balancing natural resources and commercial wind:
Audubon Society (https://policy.audubon.org/renewable-energy-and-siting); Appalachian Mountain Club (https://www.outdoors.org/conservation/issues/climate-change.cfm).
NLRA's role, in keeping with its established mission, is to work constructively and knowledgably with all stakeholders to uphold the Newfound region's shared principles of clean water, healthy forests, and rural character.
NLRA welcomes ideas, concerns, and suggestions about how best to protect the Newfound watershed. Please contact NLRA at info@NewfoundLake.org or (603)744-8689 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Newfoundlake.