Letter to the Editor: Enough is Enough on Wind Turbine Zoning Amendments

Letter to the Editor:

At its meeting on Tuesday, August 17 the Middletown Planning Board passed a previously rejected set of draft amendments to the town's recently enacted Wind Turbine Ordinance.  The effect of the proposed amendments, intended or not, would be to eliminate the possibility of wind turbines in Middletown, now and in the future.  We urge that these proposed amendments be denied by the Town Council

The proposed amendments would prevent installation of any practical wind turbines in Middletown because it would preclude them from any "scenic, natural or historic" areas where they would be "dominating the view" from "one or more prominent public vantage points."  There are few, if any, locations in Middletown that could not be reasonably characterized as "scenic, natural, or historic" as viewed from any vantage point. The nature of wind turbines is that, to be efficient and practical, they must be installed on high towers where the wind will be effective for their operation.  Such structures can always be reasonably characterized as "dominating" by opponents.  Incorporating this language into the town's wind turbine ordinance would provide the force of law to the typical arguments of wind turbine opponents and preclude a balanced consideration of the economic and environmental advantages of wind turbines in Middletown. 

The Middletown Wind Turbine Committee investigated the effect that a single town-owned utility scale wind turbine (similar to the one at Portsmouth High School) would have on electricity costs for the town, that is, for public buildings, schools, street lights, and other town uses.  It was found that, even at current electric rates, the town could save millions of dollars over the assumed 20-year life of such a wind turbine.  At current rates, with no special support, the town could save about $6 million over 20 years, with a Green Energy Grant $7 million, and with that and Renewable Energy Credits about $10 million.  Beyond that, such a wind turbine would largely insulate the town from the cost of inevitable rate increases for electricity in the future.

If the intention of the town is to prohibit large-tower wind turbines (those over 100 feet) then the town should do so explicitly.  To adopt an ordinance that would effectively prohibit them, but not say so, is not in the town's best interest.  If the town's intention is to designate certain areas of Middletown as worthy of protection from any change, the Wind Turbine Ordinance is not the place to do so.   Drafting a Wind Turbine Ordinance went on for two years in Middletown before it finally passed.  Why are we reopening it again?  Enough is enough!

Sincerely,
Peter  Tarpgaard

Member, Middletown Wind Turbine Committee