Opening Pandora’s box, risking property rights
As a town of Warren farmer, not planning to take part in the wind
farm project, I was shocked to read that the Mercury is endorsing a
plan that could result in the loss of our property rights. Just imagine
the state stepping in and taking part of your land for the placement of
huge wind turbines, power lines and access roads without your
permission. This could happen if the state legislator gets involved in
the wind power debate.
The Mercury front page article by Mike Root, opinion column written
by Mike Root (managing editor) and Otsego 2000 statement in the January
5, 2006 edition should have every New York State property owner and
resident up in arms. The Otsego 2000, 501c3 non-profit group, “is
trying to get interest generated among state legislators” to seek a
state-wide moratorium on wind power.
The Mercury “opinion” is endorsing this effort. Has Otsego 2000 and
the Mercury editor thought about the consequences of state legislator
involvement? The answer is clearly no!
Going to the state legislator could result in a state law or policy
that would adversely affect all of us. Has Otsego 2000 and the Mercury
considered that one outcome of a moratorium could be a state law
providing eminent domain status for wind power projects?
Currently wind power projects do not have eminent domain status, and
therefore have to get the permission of the landowner before using or
leasing the land. The property owner has the right to say no!
If the legislator grants eminent domain status, the state steps in
and takes the private property for public good and pays a nominal
one-time fee (about $1,000 per acre) to the landowner. The landowner
has no recourse and will not get lease payments or any other money for
the life of the project.
In fact, the whole project can be tax exempt from town, county and
school district taxation. We, the local people, would have no say in
the project and receive no financial gain from the wind farm.
If eminent domain status is granted, this area would not be looking
at 75 towers in the Warren and Stark townships, and 30 some in Cherry
Valley. Eminent domain status would allow the big oil companies to gain
market access to New York State power production.
Big oil and energy companies would supply the money to build
hundreds and hundreds of wind turbines and transmission line
infrastructure from Cherry Valley west to Cedarville, from Cooperstown
north to the Mohawk Valley. Our area could be covered with wind
turbines as far as the eye could see in Springfield, Richfield Springs
and the surrounding areas.
Why would the state legislator allow such a thing to happen?
1. The political influence and lobbying money of the energy industry is huge.
2. Wind power electricity will be used along with upstate hydroelectric power to provide cheap power to New York City.
3. The majority of voting power in New York State legislation is controlled by the down state representatives.
I strongly urge the local residents, Otsego 2000 and the Mercury to
consider the potential consequences of seeking a moratorium from the
state legislator. Their efforts should be at the town, county, and
judicial levels of government. The local wind farm projects are not yet
a done deal.
There are smart ways to slow them down or even stop them within the
town and county governments without rolling the dice in a state
legislator crap game. I am not for or against these wind farms, but I
am against the Mercury and Otsego 2000 (not-for-profit group) putting
my property rights at risk, putting my farm at risk, and willing to put
our entire area at risk!
Tim Downing
Richfield Springs
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