QUIET PRIDE

I represent Portsmouth taxpayers and citizens.  These people were not well served by Mr. Smith’s “Guest View” “Know the facts about the town’s wind turbine” in the October 12, 2012 Newport Daily News. I know Mr. Smith to be a well respected, honorable and productive Portsmouth citizen volunteer. He has tirelessly contributed much of his personal time to Portsmouth civic endeavors. Mr. Smith was a major contributor to the wind turbine project so there should be no surprise at his distress. However, the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee was only doing as instructed by the sitting Town Councils presiding at the time. The PEDC possesses no authority beyond a small budget, to risk taxpayer funds. Such authority lies solely with the sitting Town Council. Failure of the turbine is not a failure of the PEDC.

Although, as a citizen, I voted against the $3M referendum question to build the wind turbine, I was thoroughly interested in the construction challenges and viewed its subsequent operation with quiet pride. I am not against turning wind into electricity. I actually own a small wind turbine that charges batteries on my sailboat. I voted against the project because I did not believe that Portsmouth government possessed the unique expertise and credentialed personnel needed to successfully execute such a complex and therefore risky project.

The decision to ask voters to get into the wind business is the sole responsibility of the 2004 Democratic Town Council. The decision to buy the turbine taxpayers now own from the low bidder instead of going back to the voters for enough money to buy something other than a mongrel, was that of the 2006 Democratic Town Council. Three years into its projected 20 year life span, the machine has suffered a financially catastrophic mechanical failure. It is the duty of the present Town Council to ensure that it understands, to the best of its ability, the malfunction, cost to repair, and the risk and cost of additional failure, in order to choose the corrective action that best serves the people I represent and minimizes additional risk going forward. The likely big losses will impact everyone. The way I see it; this Council or the next has one chance to get it right.

Joseph W. Robicheau

Portsmouth Town Council, President