(Disclaimer: I speak for myself in this op-ed article, not anyone else).
The Bethany Open House passed without incident last night. Very few residents showed up to view the available report, so there are many copies left at the Town Hall (hint, hint, go get one while they're free).
TAXES
I will say I was unhappy with the cover letter that accompanied the reports last night -- it listed the tax inflation over the next twenty years as being 50%. Well, sure, but due to inflation EVERYTHING will go up 50% over the next twenty years. That does not necessarily mean that we need turbines to survive.
A public hearing regarding amendments to the Town of Bethany Comprehensive Plan will be held on the 23rd of April 2007 at 7;30pm in the Town offices.
The amendments better address the development and concerns which have arisen or increased since the plan was first created, such as, the Genesee County Smart Growth Plan, Rout 63 corridor study, new CAFO regulations and alternative energy sources.
I attended the meeting in Orleans County on Monday night where Mr. Golisano and Mr. Pitman spoke regarding wind turbines in that county. To start off, Mr. G. looks pretty good as he has lost considerable amount of weight. BUT, I do not agree with his take on the wild life issue (there is no issue as they do not admit to a problem with bird and/or bat kill). From my point of view, since the towns cannot originate their own wind turbine business, he will front it for 10 years then turn it over to the town.
I am writing in response to a letter from Roger Thurber in the February 19th edition of the Daily News. Among his praises for electric power, he refers to electricity as "the cheapest hired hand" that he could hire on the farm. Let's examine the wind power he favors so much in just those terms - as an employee, or "hired hand", of the electrical grid.
Wind power is intermittent, so this hired hand would show up, and leave, at any given time. This would happen so often that you really couldn't rely on this hired hand to get the job done. Consequently, you would have to keep other hands working at the same time (reliable, reserve power plants). In fact, if you tried to look up references on this hired hand, you wouldn't be able to find any proof that he had done any work at all, despite the great estimates he had given you on the amount of work he 'might' do.
It is reported on a Buffalo TV station that some of the wind towers are up and getting ready to operate. Just for those who do not know, up close, what they are going to look like, here is your chance. At least you won't have to go to Lowville to see what they look like, now.
Just a heads-up & FYI-- Published in the LeRoy PennySaver of March 12, 2007, and authored by Shelley Stein, Supervisor of Town of LeRoy:
Agricultural and Soil values increased significantly in which raised the taxable values. These values are derived by a formula of crop productivity from NYS Ag & Markets. All agricultural property owners will see an increase in taxable land values due to fo
The New York State DEC is allowing another 60 days (till March 13, 2007) for the public to comment on preliminary global rules that will reduce CO2 emissions from power plants. (i.e. "a major contributor to global warming!!!") How come/why can't power plants just buy RPS (?) "credits to dirty the air" as other businesses do?