There is a lot of bad behavior by the government in this country at all levels. Last century they imported multiflora rose bushes as game cover. Because they didn't do their research, we now have our woods infested with this noxious plant. Without adequate research the federal governement sent our boys to Iraq. Now, without observing the European experience they passed legislation to give enormous tax subsidies to wind power companies. Experience in Germany suggests that the net economic effect of wind energy development is not positive. Although the federal governemnt attempted to look green; they should blush. The state then mandates that a percentage of the electricity must be from windpower. But it's not the government alone. It's corporate control of the government.

Wind energy is not green. It is red, as in " In the red". They are not profitable for anyone but the companies who get the tax subsidies. The municipalities loose, the taxpayers loose, the landowners gain a pittance at the cost of an irreplaceable natural resource. If there would be no tax subsidy there would be no industrial wind turbines. Industrial wind turbines will not reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Only 3% of our oil use is for electricity productionThe only ones "in the black" are the contractors and energy companies. The wind companies don't pay their fair share of taxes - worsening the already serious level of federal deficit.

The idea behind generating electricity through wind and solar was to replace the power generated by dirtier (as in air pollution) coal-fired plants. But just how many coal-fired plants will be shuttered as we rush to convert our ridge top forests to wind-power installations? The answer is none. The reason: a coal -fired power plant operates at over 80% of it's capacity in the summer when we demand the most electricity; wind turbines only average 15% of their capacity because the wind blows least during summer months. If every individual in the state replaces two incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones, we would save the same amount of energy as will be produced by all the wind turbines proposed for the state

There are conflicts of interest at many levels of government as it legislates this issue. State and local ordinances and suggested ordinances are being written by individuals who have ties to the wind industry. It's time these conflicts are brought to light. Prior to the erection of wind turbines in Somerset County, the Commissioners created the Somerset County Ridge Top Protection Advisory Committe.

On April 24, 2002, that committee concluded:
...wind power...development in the County to date has (not) had such negative impacts as to necessitate government ...regulation
...the level of planned and potential development...does not justify preemptory regulatory action.

These conclusions are obsolete. And they were influenced by those with financial interests in the outcome. There has been numerous negative effects - there are hundreds of wind turbines planned. In light of the changes in circumstances, we call on the Somerset County Commissioners to reconvene this Committee to reflect the new realities of this situation.

From the top of the county (Folmont Property Owners Association) to the bottom (Friends of the Appalachian Highlands) the constituency is speaking. Perhaps Chairman Marker will awaken and reconvene the Ridge Top Advisory Committee to prevent the loss of ridgetops in Somerset County by avaricious entrepreneurs. Write your legislator now.

http://www.windaction.org/ | http://wind-watch.org/ | http://www.vawind.org/