A conversation pertaining to the upcoming wind debate in Dixfield

dan mckay
to rvwec

show details 4:08 PM (13 hours ago)

Freemont and I just got back from Dr. Aniel's place where we had a 2 hour discussion. I had my reservations concerning the upcoming wind debate in Dixfield. It looks like the Doctor is going to be substantially outnumbered by the opposition and I wondered if he was up to the task. I can assure you he is prepared and I am certain this will be a big win for us. Our support by attending is important. I will be requesting members of the citizens task force to write a column against wind and post on the website. If other members will print out copies of these writings and send them to me or Freemont or anyone else interested in receiving them, we will have them as handouts in the lobby at the school prior to the meeting. I am also requesting posters containing pictures and pharses reinforcing our cause to be assembled. Anyone with laptops can show off some of the excellent videos we have on file.
Let's get behind Dr. Aniel and I'm confident a difference will be made.
Freemont and I also visited a fellow citizen living on Rt 2 in Dixfield. This family will not only have the wind farms in Carthage in full view at their property, but those on Colonel Holman Mountain will be in sight. Needless to say, they oppose them.
This citizen told us about a well attired out of stater who stopped at their place recently inquiring about access to Holman Mountain, which is a natural ridge extension to Saddleback Mountain. Like Powell said , 20 turbines will become 200 turbines.


Good job, Dan. Dr. Aniel was up here this afternoon. I talked to him a bit about the debate, too. The organizers are still supposed to be getting back to me and I think they are having trouble getting participants. Just a hunch that I have.

I have been in contact with some of the Bethel /Woodstock/Newry people and am trying to get good basic information out to them for some of their town boards. I now wish we had continued on with our Educational packet that we had talked about back in October after that Rumford forum.

Noise and setbacks for Monday night is that what Roger told us? What about Dixfield's agenda? I was wondering, should I send the Dixfield "ordinance" committee an offer to help? Perhaps they might be more open to my services now. What do you think?



With the exception of Dr. Aniel, it appears the participants that have been selected are in lock-step with the hysteria fabricators of climate change, an argument growing weaker by the day. The good common sense approach of our cause revealed through the literature, posters, and videos we can provide to the people, as well as Dr. Aniel's vast knowledge will guarantee our success at this forum. I think we should try to presuade Linda Walbridge into allowing the Doctor rebuttal time to the opponents arguments on economics, emmissions, tangible benefits, etc. Linda has pegged most of us as simple activists and has purposely kept us off the panel ( I reccommended Steve Thurston, Tom Powell, Charles Berg ). I sense Dr. Aniel will be able to tap into the people's underlying distrust of government. He will certainly be the star of this forum and deserves all our support. Everyone you can contact should be urged to attend. This is an oppurtunity to transfer our many hours of work in acquiring knowledge on wind farms to the people. We have 2 weeks to write our letters to the newspapers to rally people to this event. You, as well as all our members on the RVWEC and CTFWP have proven their understanding of what is wrong about wind farms. It is time for the public to hear us.
Dixfield's agenda makes no mention of wind issues. I sense they will discuss it, but have hidden it in " old business " Freemont and I will probably forgo attending this select few meeting to attend Roger's and Pete's meeting in Rumford where I believe we can speak during the initial 10 minutes of the meeting about noise and the adverse effects it will have on potential development within a mile to a mile and a half of wind farms. We can also describe the effect of views as it relates to the hidden " view tax " most municipalities assess property owners, whether they will admit to it or not.
I sense our wind ordinance committee in Dixfield is desperate to hear from our citizens to guide them to the proper course to take. As such, they are continuing to drag the process of writing an ordinance on.I advocated to Norine to take their time as time is working to our favor.
Your input to them to how the quick decisions made in Roxbury has resulted in outrage among the community would be an effective point. They want to find a solution that avoids messes down the road, especially court action. They are fully aware of what a hot issue this is. I have always advocated Byron's actions in zoning off their mountain's to development with the exception of communication towers. Our comprehensive plan certainly gives us the oppurnutity to do this. Patriots, if we can hold them to their word, which I think I can locate in written words with some digging, has said they would leave if the town indicates that wind farms are not wanted here. A zoning mechanism proposed to our citizens, if passed by their vote, would get the ordinance committee off the hook, and if Patriots refuses to leave, we will cause an uproar against them. As Tom Powell said the other day, if a vote for or against wind farms was to be taken this day, Dixfield would be against, and I believe that. I believe if you can stress the point about how much trouble this has caused in Roxbury, Lincoln , Vinalhaven, Mars Hill etc. that will increase their nervousness. Telling them that the opponents to wind farms are not going away and our strength is growing will also keep them thinking.