Franken-Tester Bill Would Support Community Wind Development

My sympathies to the individuals Mr. Barker chooses to denigrate in his comments and refers to as the "non-natives". Whether his angry accusations are true or not is immaterial. His mean spirited view and eagerness to find a scapegoat serve to re-iterate the significant problems that develop when wind turbines are poorly sited.

emI'd also like to note that property values all over the country, and ESPECIALLY in rural communities with localized economies took a massive hit due to the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac scandals that were part of an overall economic collapse. It is convenient for the complainers to lump that in to the so-called effects of the turbines being in operation, which happened to coincide with the collapse of the mortgage industry. However, there has not been a formal property value assessment on the island since the turbines went operational, so any decreased property value is a perception, NOT a reality. However, the exploitation of Maine's tree growth exemption has created a very real decline in property value, at least in terms of taxation rate. Funny how all of the people complaining about lost property value had no problem taking this "hit" to their valuation when it meant paying less in taxes, another way they are cheating the town. This exemption has made at least one of the neighbors' waterfront property be assessed as non-waterfrontage because they put that portion of their land in tree growth, an exemption that was intended to benefit the logging industry, NOT a retiree trying to exploit his/her island retirement community. But lets ignore ALL of the other factors in the property value mix because it might weaken the frivolous lawsuit brought forth by our "neighbors." By the way, a 98% support for a project is not a divide. Seems we're pretty united as a community, save for a small insurgency of non-natives looking to cash in on our community and attempt to create a divide where none previously existed. Fortunately, our community did not fallinto this trap, remains strongly united for the cause and reaps the benefits both economical and environmental of operating these three beacons of energy independence and ecological responsbility. Just to clarify, This is Alan Barker Jr, and while I'm sure my father supports my views, these posts are my views, not his.

The comments above from anonymous (most likely David or Sally) are par for the course in their obsessive off-island attempt to mislead the public and put forth false comments that only serve to discredit the work of our island communities to sustain our working community. As an islander whose family goes back 5 generations, I resent the ease to which they lie behind a veil and in public venues where people take their word as being reflective of a larger group.

Let us remember that these individuals are part of a small handful of neighbors (less than a dozen) who are effectively suing their fellow community members, who refuse to take part in objective sociological and scientific studies designed to address any issues they might have. This is not the way us islands approach problem solving. Instead, we look to work together, to speak honestly and truthfully, and at all costs, to put the community ahead of the individual.

The anonymous poster alludes to the fact that the community is 'divided'. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Surveys a year after the project began showed 98% of ratepayers on both islands felt positively about our wind project, and in fact, community support for the project had grown as residents started to recognize the many benefits of producing cheaper, cleaner power here on the island.

The 'divide' this individual refers to is not an actual divide but rather the growing frustration of islanders who have seen rates rise because of a costly litigation effort (now over $650,000) waged by a small group of neighbors who refuse to work with the community to resolve the alleged issues they have with the project. Maybe these few complainers should think about the day-to-day struggles to sustain our way of life before continuing their unwarranted, self-interested, baseless attacks on our community. Its time we recognize that FIW was properly planned, sited and executed and 98% of residents consider this project a success

Mr. Barker's comments illustrate an attitude that is both short sighted and typical of community problems associated with wind turbine noise and flicker. The number of turbines does contribute to the noise level, but just one turbine can be a terrible problem for noise sensitive near-by residents. When the following article was written on turbine noise in Falmouth, Mass., only one turbine was in operation. http://climatide.wgbh.org/2011/03/the-falmouth-experience-life-under-the-blades/ Just one turbine can cause sleep disturbance, annoyance, head aches, and a whole host of problems for individuals that are noise sensitive. To imply that only "non-natives" are noise sensitive is ridiculous.
Mr. Barkers initial comment, "The complainers (yes, complainers) are all non-native", is also typical of the havoc wind turbine noise and flicker can cause in a community. Often times a community is divided between those who feel they are experiencing an economic benefit (in this case, according to Mr. Barker, the native islanders) and those who are not, the "non-natives." The first writer expresses fears that he will not be able to sell his home, regain his investment, and move. Mr. Barker answers this comment by accusing, "one could easily draw the logical conclusion that the major concern with the turbines is that the complainers saw dollar signs because other communities that have turbine projects have seen residents hit paydirt with lawsuits." The documentary Windfall explores this same issue where a town in upper state New York is divided by those who feel they have an economic benefit and those who feel they have lost value due to the turbine noise and flicker. The implication that the injured parties are going to "hit paydirt" is another accusation that is often false, but does serve to increase tension and division in the community.
This kind controversy is a sad reality of wind turbine development when it is not properly planned, sited, and executed.

The complainers (yes, complainers) are all non-native, and number in the single digits (though they have sympathizers bringing their numbers into the mid-teens). I mention their non-native status because regardless of how many generations you've been here, the fact that you lawyered up immediately, blocked all attempts by the acoustic experts to resolve the problems at the advice of your lawyers with your "You need to fix the problem, but we can't tell you what the problem is because our lawyers told us not to talk to you" attitude. (and ANYONE that was at the 2010 Co-op meeting can confirm that fact) Then there is the fact that the majority of the island saw a sharp decrease in their electric bills, the natives that live in the 1/4-3/4 mile zone around the windmills ALL have no complaints about them, so its just an isolated pocket of non-natives that are carrying on about this. This is strictly opinion, but based on several other facts (also all a matter of public record) one could easily draw the logical conclusion that the major concern with the turbines is that the complainers saw dollar signs because other communities that have turbine projects have seen residents hit paydirt with lawsuits. I like how you try to compare a windfarm of over 40 windmills to our three monuments to consevation and cheap electricity as if the imaginary consequences would even be comparable. I also remember the day that the group from North Carolina was on the island to hear for themselves, and while the windmills were turning at 100% capacity, the complainers decended on the site to spread their lies, saying they were awful and having everyone in the group laugh at them. They changed their tack to say that things get much wors just to be proven wrong again because they were cranking at full capacity. Must have hurt the ego to have a whole group laugh in your face AND catch you in a lie... OUCH.

According to several well informed sources, there is no lawsuit against the Coop. The only lawsuit is between several neighbors who have a suit before Maine's Superior Court because the DEP commissioner, Patty Aho, did not follow through with recommendations from her staff concerning the turbine noise protocol for Vinalhaven. The details of this suit are public record. Some individuals on the island continue to spread rumors and demonize the residents who are suffering from living with the turbine noise. Many other individuals in Freedom and Mars Hill also suffer from living next to industrial sized turbines. This is a well recognized problem that has occurred at many wind farms in the US and in Europe where wind turbines are installed too close to homes. Turbine noise is not a problem that is ONLY evident on Vinalhaven. Mr. Barker is very fortunate indeed if he is not sensitive to turbine noise, but he should not criticize those people who do have these sensitivities. These people who he describes as 'complainers' and who he suggests are the enemy are members of his own community, his neighbors, perhaps some of whom who have lived on Vinalhaven for generations.

Thanks ABaker for the good fact-filled letter. I am sorry for the people who feel so wronged by our Electric Coop. I have spent time close to the wind mills and have walked around their bases. Its clear the people costing the electric coop so much money in expert help and legal fees never lived anywhere near the town of Vinalhaven in the 1950's - 1970's when the roar of the old electric generators could be heard for over a mile and conversations had to cease when one walked by, as it was too hard to shout over the sound level. There is also the issue of the fact that humans are spilling WAY too much carbon into the atmosphere WAY too fast. Folks on a small island need to think about what a rise of sea level, even the modest rise predicted in the next 30 years, will do to our community. I love the Fox Island Wind Project windmills and am so proud of them and the community where my mother was born and brought up. Seeing them spinning and gleaming over the spruce trees gives me hope for America's future.

I can't sit idly by and see more lies brought against my community or our wind site. Everyone was informed that there would be noise associated with the turbines before they were even put to a community vote. We were informed that the noise level readings were no louder than the ambient noise level, not that ambient noise would mask them (BIG difference). The actual sound readings that the opponents are basing their complaints of the turbines being out of compliance are from amateurs reading sound measuring devices on the actual turbine site, not from their homes as they claim, and in the two years that the turbines have been spinning, there was one incident under very specific wind conditions that, for ten minutes, the turbines were two decibels above Maine's night time noise limit. For the record, the human ear cannot distinguish a change of less than 5 decibels. Further, I live within 1/4 mile of the turbines, and they have NEVER bothered me. I can barely hear them outside, and don't hear them at all while inside the house. As for the cost of electricity, the only people who seem to be having this problem are those who are taking to the media to lie about the turbines. The majority of islanders saw an immediate (and ongoing) reduction of rates, with increases only after being forced to bring in acoustic engineers to consult with the complainers at the expense of the community, and in defense of a lawsuit brought against the electrical cooperative, an entity that is owned and operated by the communities of Vinalhaven and North Haven. As an added benefit, we've also had fewer problems with power outages due to our ability to generate our own. But these things don't typically get the mainstream press that the loud minority gets for their false accusations and misinformation. By the way, the community voted on construction, and the turbines were approved at a vote of 314-5, with several of the FOR votes being cast by those suing the cooperative now.

Community wind is a good concept, however, if done without proper setbacks and inadequate noise regulations, the results can be disastrous for neighbors of the wind farm and turn into a controversial nightmare for the entire community. Our community of Vinalhaven, Maine built three 1.5 MGW turbines on a relatively small piece of property too close to neighbors. The site is so small that turbines are placed in a triangular formation, downwind of each other, which increases the noise. The developer, Fox Island Wind, failed to disclose the results of an earlier acoustical engineering study that predicted noise would be an issue and that recommended that the neighbors be informed. With the backing of the Island Institute, FIW told the neighbors in informational meetings and in writing that the turbine noise would be covered by the ambient sound. When the turbines were commissioned anyone who lived within 3/4 of a mile of them knew there had been a serious miscalculation, probably due to the fact that wind shear was not factored in to their model. Since then, the controversy has been an ugly experience for all those involved. The neighbors who naively believed FIW and supported the project, find they can not sell their homes unless they are willing to take a 20 to 40% loss in property value. Day in and day out they listen to the grinding, whumping, interminable turbine noise which has ruined their quality of life and also, according to peer reviewed studies, threaten their health. On a community level, the price per KWH has gone UP. In 2009, before the wind turbines, they paid 8 cents per KWH. Recently, the electrical bill was for 13.6 cents KWH. Islanders were promised 6 cents a KWH. The utility refuses to explain the reasons for the high cost per KWH. I hope the senators that sponsored this bill are not looking through rose colored glasses because without proper setbacks and strong noise regulations, they are sending these communities to the chopping blocking!