Comment

Comment by freemont tibbetts on March 2, 2012 at 1:09pm

      To Eileen M. Adams Sun Journal,   I thank you for the correction of this story where you   wrote, that Dixfield Town Manager Eugene Skibitsy said. the Town of Dixfield had voted down a Wind ordinance before at a town meeting. The town has never voted on a Wind ordinance . I will be going door to door soon after the movie WINDFALL, with a PETITION that reads We, the undersigned registered voters in Dixfield, call upon the Dixfield Select Board to carry out all arrangements necessary to include within the June 2012 ballot , the following question: ( Shall the Town of Dixfield enact the wind energy facility ordinance presented herein as (  Wind ordinance for Dixfield Maine , December 14, 2011 ? )     Freemont Tibbetts. 

                       WINDFALL movie this Sunday Ma. 4, 2012 at 2 PM at the Dixfield High School  

Comment by Whetstone_Willy on March 2, 2012 at 6:56am

When the wind industry lobbied for these subsidies, they were looking not just for huge profits (while taking almost no risks) but they were also looking for a huge amount of money to bribe politicians, environmental groups and even at times the media.

Comment by Penny Melko on March 2, 2012 at 3:08am

Across this country, every single city and county seem to be absolutely blind and deaf to the opposition to destroying our lands with the horrible wind turbines. Out here in California we're beginning to conclude the opposition has to be united on a national, North American and globally. Energy independence and sustainability was supposed to be a partnership, not rape of the land and our natural resources.  It's time to recall the city council members, county supervisors and end the subsidies that are driving the insanity.  Wrong is wrong. You can put lipstick on the pig, but they're still pigs. We should demand local rooftop solar or "BUST" with no compromise any more. Look at what has happened to the environmental groups that compromised. They're being sued by Shell.

Comment by Dan McKay on March 1, 2012 at 3:43pm

An excerpt from the  wind moratorium ordinance  voted in by Dixfield citizens by a margin of 52-11:  

" During the term of the moratorium the Town of Dixfield will determine the most appropriate methods to regulate wind energy facilities and prepare appropriate municipal ordinances to achieve such. "

After two 180 day moratoriums, during which a proposed ordinance was written and about to be presented for ballot vote  in just 10 days, the following minutes from the Select Board meeting of Oct. 24, 2010 describes an interesting, sudden and unexplained  twist to procedure.....................

5.  Old Business:

c.  Wind Ordinance – Patriot Renewables: Tom Carroll, Project Coordinator

for  Patriot Renewables,  LLC,  brought to the Board several concerns that were

found by his lawyers regarding the proposed Wind Energy Facility Ordinance for

the Town of Dixfield.  The ordinance was supposed to be neutral to development,

but it will become impossible for  any  wind  project to  take place due to  the

following:

• In the definition for a WEFU (Wind Energy Facility Unit), the committee

included roads and  power lines in the definition and  required a four

thousand (4,000’) foot set-back from any home which makes it physically

impossible to do any project.

• The committee used a four thousand (4,000’) foot set-back to include a

survey of wetlands.  The State of Maine standard is a one hundred twentyfive (125’) foot set-back,  and Patriot Renewables does not own property

four thousand (4,000’) feet from every turbine.  The company cannot be

responsible for surveying property they do not own.

• The C-Weighted Standard for noise is written with 45-55 DBA (Decipal

A-Weighted  Scale) and is different than the C-Weighted  Scale; the CWeighted Scale has no standard.

Mr.  Carroll will host an  informational meeting  “Open House” on  Thursday

evening, October 28, 2010, at Ludden Memorial Library from 6-8:00 p.m.  Eaton

Peabody  and  an  acoustic engineer will also  be present to  answer  any  questions

from the public.  They will speak of how the project stands today and what will be

involved in the next steps.

a. Ballot  Questions Alternatives: Due to  the warrant for  the Special Town

Meeting  ballot questions being signed  at the meeting,  the ballot for  the Wind

Energy Facility Ordinance could be removed.  A seven-day  posting time frame

will still be legally correct.  The State and MMA were both consulted. The Town

Manager had prepared two warrants:  one with the ordinance listed; one without.

Board members discussed the pros and cons of the ballot question.  Ms. Martin 

stated that she didn’t realize until recently that there would be very little impact

financially on the town through the use of the ordinance.  Mr. Carroll stated that

he wanted the public to know that Patriot Renewables was not asking for anything 

for the company and that they were not pressuring the Board or the Town.• On  a motion from Mrs.  Harvey  and  a second from Mr.  Gill, the Board voted unanimously to remove the ballot question from the Special Town

Meeting ballot warrant. The ballot removed stated: “Shall an ordinance

entitled WIND ENERGY FACILITY ORDINANCE FOR  THE TOWN

OF DIXFIELD as proposed by the Dixfield Wind Ordinance Committee,

be enacted?”

• On  a motion  from Mrs.  Harvey  and  a second  from Mr.  Donahue,  the

Board  v