The wind blows (sometimes) and the river flows (constantly) and the trees grow (everywhere). Our country’s quest to replace fossil fuel energy generation with a proliferation of wind towers has brought tremendous pressure to the top of our western Maine mountains, while the fact is Maine leads the nation in renewable energy (hydro, biomass).
Policies adopted by the state recognizes Maine’s natural beauty as an asset. Within the 2007 Dixfield comprehensive plan, Colonel Holman and Sugarloaf mountains are singled out as “unique” and “special” to the community’s character. You may find a surprise if you looked up the property tax assessor’s notes regarding your property’s value. I have come across several pertaining to “ mountain views “.
Tax benefits from wind towers? They do have assessment value, but what does it affect? The school budget is proportioned among the district municipalities. Consequently, when a town increases in value, it’s obligation to support the school increases. This is true for county taxes as well. The state could decrease revenue sharing to a town that has become wind tower rich. Property values decrease, the closer one’s land is to the turbines. With essentially no jobs created after turbine construction, no taxable incomes are created.
And your electric bill? No savings here. You should factor in a portion of your paid federal income tax as our government hands over millions in subsidies to wind companies.
How is our Dixfield town government handling the pending installation of wind towers atop Colonel Holman Mountain ? Dixfield has no policies on wind, therefore our government can’t stop them. They are now in the midst of developing an ordinance, which, if passed by citizen vote, allows industrial wind turbines. But, if voted down, our “ no policies “ on wind allows them in. We need a prepared option that allows us to stop them.
Did I mention wind turbines make noise?
River Valley
Public hearing on wind farm moratorium set for Monday
The public hearing begins at 5 p.m. in the community room of Ludden Memorial Library. A special town meeting, with a secret ballot vote, to act on the proposed wind power moratorium ordinance will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 14, also at the library.
The proposed ordinance was prompted by a tentative proposal by Patriot Renewables LLC of Quincy, Mass., to construct eight to 20 wind turbines along the ridge that includes Colonel Holman Mountain. The company estimated generation of between 1.5 and 2.5 megawatts of electricity from each turbine. A meteorological tower atop that mountain to measure wind speed and other data is currently being built.
Some residents have expressed opposition to the proposal. A committee was appointed by selectmen to write an ordinance that would govern the construction of wind turbines. The moratorium, if passed, would allow the town six months to write such an ordinance. A moratorium may also be extended for six months, if necessary.
Residents Dan McKay and Freemont Tibbetts have put together data on wind farms that is available at the town office.
When an ordinance governing wind farm development is ready, residents must also act on it.
Dixfield is one of several towns in the region that has been identified as a possible site for wind turbine development. Others in various stages of proposal are in Rumford, Carthage, Buckfield and Woodstock. A wind farm in Roxbury has been approved and is currently under construction.
The selectmen's regular meeting follows the public hearing.
eadams@sunjournal.com
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The wind blows (sometimes)
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... so do cars. And they
... so do cars. And they generate pollution.