Editor:
A response to the mailing from Invenergy, an article titled "Stony Creek Wind Farm Fast Facts." This propaganda was mailed out selectively to certain taxpayers and residents of the Town of Orangeville.
Their biggest boast is an annual payment to the town of $500,000. Wind companies stand to make an easy 25 percent on their investment -- at taxpayers' and ratepayers' expense. This projected town revenue is very attractive at face value. However, could a better deal be negotiated in the future by competent town board? One not vested in their own self interest?
Normally a work group or board engages in a process which eventually leads to an outcome. The town current Town Board decided on an outcome first and then bastardized the process to obtain their predetermined outcome. The Town Board sold out to the first wind energy company that came to town. What better deal could have been reached? What other options for wind energy development exist?
The Town Board was presented with copies of research and town resolutions from Livingston County that would provide lower school, county and town taxes for all residents regarding wind development. I believe they not only ignored this information but they never read it. "Industrial wind companies are simply profit machines for multi-national corporations. These profiteers offer to give us back only a tiny portion of our own money, while devastating the natural beauty of our towns."
A group of concerned Orangeville residents have explored a variety of viable renewable energy options. We support the wind turbine project in Perry that has been sited on Route 246 and will soon be constructed at Perry/Warsaw airport. This technology can be utilized residentially, on farms and the rooftops of public building which would lead to lower taxes for all of us.
We should also continue to support manure digesters that utilize methane to produce electricity. This is an endless resource in Orangeville and Wyoming County. These options alone could bring hundreds of jobs to Wyoming County and lower cost for everyone. Wind turbines 450 feet tall that jeopardize our health and safety, decrease the value of our homes and will be sited 700 feet from our property lines is not the answer. Why hasn't Supervisor Susan May, who sits on the Wyoming County Green committee, aggressively pursued this type of development? This would represent a win/win outcome for everybody. Unfortunately, our Town Board is in bed with Invenergy.
The Invenergy deal provides no free electric or energy credits to residents although they claim to produce electricity to supply 37,000 households. In fact industrial wind facilities actual output is erratic, averaging 10 percent to 30 percent at best, and many days provides nothing at all. But I ask, why not offer a percentage (50 percent cut across the board for all property taxes) not just a percentage of our town taxes? When our assessments go up as predicted our school and county taxes will continue to go through the roof. Did you now that all Wyoming County payments in lieu of tax agreements for wind farms are the lowest in New York State?
Noble Wind constructed an electric switchyard and transmission line in Orangeville. What did the town get for this deal? The Supervisor and Town Board gave us a 3 percent tax increase. What a deal, at least Councilman Jim Herman was able to benefit from his financial dealings with Noble Wind. Then there is councilman Tom Schabloski who could not voted on the new wind law since he has financial interest in the Wind Company Invenergy.
Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with private property owners obtaining lease agreements from land developers. However, let us explore the alternative green energy programs which may be more agreeable to the community as a whole. Have landowners looked at the thousands of dollars available, to not develop land, for maintaining agricultural land?
We need to move forward with a more win/win approach to conducting business in Orangeville.
Harold Hopkins
North Java
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