Letter responding to Pat Wick Town Board member in Cattaraugus County

July 28, 2008

Dear Pat Wick:

I take exception to your disparaging and vitriolic comments made as a "Town Board member in Cattaraugus County" and directed at James Hall. Especially as Mr. Hall, and many others who are like minded, dedicate our valuable time and energy to defend your interests', and without re-numeration.

Your emotional diatribe about wind turbines is offered in context of what should be science-based, peer reviewed, and circumspect evaluation. The overblown benefits of wind energy and understated costs and risks associated with the same merit investigation by the Attorney General of the State of New York as well as by circumspect and respectful representatives of the public.

Casting aspersion on the messenger as you have indicates that you are woefully uniformed about the adverse impacts as well as the impracticality of this faith based initiative brought to you by industry. Perhaps you are not aware that PetroCats and WindCats are one in the same involved in the diversification of their energy investment portfolios. While carbon sink can be achieved by more earth friendly tree planting, conservation measures are not as profitable to industry, like GE and the entities represented by the American Wind Energy Association AWEA that are seeking tax sheltering opportunities--at the public expense. "Green is Green"

You may consider wind turbines to be kinetic art, while this is not an opinion shared by scores of homeowners whose idyllic peace, quiet, and tranquility has been shattered by them. If wind turbine noise is not a problem, then why do wind developers buy homes near them and create deed riders so that these developers will be held harmless for the noise they create? Do you suspect that the 3rd International Conference on Wind Turbine Noise held in Aalborg, Denmark last month was held and attended by "liars"?

I ask that you please investigate the facts as a representative of the public before leading the public down the primrose path that you've obviously taken. Please consider the supplemental information that I have provided if you are tasked with Town Planning and the creation of bylaws that attempt to address the public interest; such as set backs and wind turbine exclusion areas.

Sincerely,
Barbara Durkin
Northboro, MA