Report exaggerates risks of wind turbines

 Report exaggerates risks of wind turbines

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011


The town of Lyme Wind Economics report is misleading and greatly exaggerates the possible risks of industrial wind turbines. Two members of the group, Richard Nagel (co-chairman), and Guy Gosier, do not agree with findings in the report and declined to sign the report. Not making clear that two members of the committee strongly disagree with the published findings is very misleading.

The majority of the studies on the property value impact of turbines indicate that there is either no impact or a slight positive impact on the nearby property values. An independent economist (J. Hinman) in 2010 identified 77 studies about the economic impact of wind turbines on residential property values. Ninety-one percent (71) concluded there was a positive or no impact on values. The remaining studies (6) were primarily negative opinions, not factual, statistical studies.

It should come as no surprise that the anti-wind majority of this group could not identify any successful legal cases resulting from claimed loss in market value and/or resultant assessment reductions due to wind turbines. If the losses were real, lawsuits would be rampant (think asbestos), yet no successful cases were identified from the hundreds of wind farms across the country. The large possible risks cited in the report have not been substantiated by our legal system.

The picture of the house on page 4 was built by Andy Crouse, the son of Allen and Chris Crouse of Three Mile Bay. The house was built after the turbines were erected and is closer to the turbines than the minimum setback for a nonparticipating landowner. It is misleading to show the picture without noting the circumstances.


Second, the risks and recommendations are neither supported by facts nor by the experiences of the towns with wind farms in upstate New York. A survey conducted by this committee determined that there were very positive results in areas that actually have wind turbines (Chateaugay, Madison, Maple Ridge). These towns said local employment related to the wind turbines is real and significant particularly during the construction phase. Possible risks did not materialize or were resolved. There have been no reported related lawsuits.

Where are the facts on the significant possible risks cited in the report? I think they reside primarily in the minds of the anti-wind group.

There are no facts that this committee uncovered that indicate any real downside, just some unfounded fears and resistance to change.

Wind Farms will have a significant and lasting positive impact on the town of Lyme. Based on the initial estimate of 40 wind turbines, $540,000 per year will flow to local taxing authorities with a comparable amount going to the landowners in the impact zone, an ongoing $1 million plus per year going into our local economy.

Richard Nagel

Three Mile Bay