I’ve read with interest the letters concerning the wind plant proposed for Lempster Mountain. Lyman, NH spent last year publicly debating a proposed wind site atop the town’s defining ridgeline. After all the discussion, the response from the town was near unanimous – NO TOWERS!

Wind is unreliable, producing electricity only when the wind blows, and within the right range, usually between 8 and 56 mph, with optimum capacity at 33 mph. Since back-up energy sources are always required to cover downtime, wind sites are not ‘emission free’. According to NH-OEP, a 25-megawatt facility would reduce CO2 gas emissions from the state by an inconsequential .06 percent. For a power source that is unreliable and offers limited savings on greenhouse gases, the facilities are huge. When was the last time you saw an energy plant tower 200 to 320 feet into the air and require a 100-acre footprint? Contrary to industry assertions, wind towers will not save us from oil. The United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil per day. The 130 wind turbines proposed for Nantucket Sound will displace 2 million barrels per year; 33 towers scheduled for Mars Hill, Maine even less at 300,000 barrels per year. For this we take out ridgelines and destroy the beauty and integrity of our richest environments in New Hampshire? Let’s stop to understand what Lempster has to gain from a facility in its front yard. In Lyman, two prominent realtors went on record stating the detrimental impact a plant would have on property values. These “in-your-face” wind sites create uncertainty in the market, detract from the beauty of the natural surroundings, and yes – they are noisy. The ‘whomping’ can be heard from miles away and the low frequency creates a drumming noise that penetrates walls. The decibels are low, but the sound is real. Claims that property values increase in the vicinity of wind towers are nonsensical and based on flawed studies prepared by wind proponents. The wind companies sneer at impacts on migratory birds, but here too, the effects cannot be ignored. True, the blades spin at only 15-50 mph, but this is the speed at the hub. Measured at the blade’s end, the turbine is spinning at 130-430 mph. Self-serving studies by wind proponents claim otherwise, but birds and bats are killed and in great numbers. Developers often tout the tax benefits to a community, but beware the economic realities. Wind companies are typically investment firms that build plants for the purposes of tax avoidance. Investors take advantage of accelerated depreciation programs and within five years the facilities have little value on the books. Shortly after coming online, developers request rebates on local taxes paid, and they’ll fight small communities like Lempster all the way to the NH Supremes if necessary. There are great ecological and economic risks to a community that accepts the ideal of wind power, without understanding the realities. Now is the time for Lempster citizens to stand up and fight for your town.