Where in the vineyard do you put this? How many of these can you build before the farms stop being farms?
This is fascinating. Pioneer Green Energy, the same company that wants to put up wind turbines in North East, is also trying to build up to forty wind turbines along the top of Shinbone Ridge in Cherokee and Etowah Counties in Alabama. Why is it fascinating? Because there are some odd similarities between that project and North East.
Same playbook, different town
News story about Alabama officials and journalists traveling to Sheldon, New York
Another odd similarity is this story by the Alabama Media Group. It reports the commissioners said they couldn’t stop Pioneer from building turbines in the county. What’s odd is that very similar words were used by the supervisors here in a public meeting several weeks ago, when they said they couldn’t stop Pioneer from building turbines, a statement, at the time, that seemed out of place because the points being raised in the meeting were about setbacks and safety issues. It’s almost like Pioneer stresses the point so often it makes people believe it. You have to wonder how numerous counties and townships turn these projects away if they “can’t.”
Don’t believe anyone, do your own research, check us out
What does all of this mean? We think you can form your own conclusions, but it should make you think twice before listening to one side of this issue or deciding too quickly. Those of us who oppose these turbines are more than ready to back up anything we say with references and source materials. Check us out! Will all of those who support turbines say the same?
Gadsden Times article about Pioneer Green Energy project in Alabama
Also interesting is this quote in the article:
the wind farms would be 2,000 feet away from the nearest residence and the windmills would only be as loud as a refrigerator at that distance.
That’s the same thing they’re telling us here for much larger turbines at half the distance, I guess it depends a lot on what refrigerator you’re referring to, either that, or this comparison means nothing at all.
Derek R. says
HELLO — Is anybody listening?? This article in the Gadsen Times makes me want to question everything that Pioneer claims. Take a careful look at Pioneer Green Energy’s website and read the small disclaimers and study their wording. Has Pioneer actually built a wind farm? All projects listed on their website are “under development.” It is not clear to me if ground has been broken at any of these sites. PGE’s homepage does contain a list of completed wind farms — but they state PGE did NOT build them. (Read the fine print.) One has to wonder if PGE really intends to build any wind farms. Read the bios of each employee at PGE. It reads more like an investment firm made up of a bunch of lawyers and one private investigator. There are many wind and solar (Solyndra comes to mind) companies who have taken government money and then quickly closed down. Maybe North East should slow down, investigate, (maybe hire their own private investigator) and select a wind company that has successfully completed projects, — one that is in good, stable financial condition and can stand independent of government funding (our tax dollars). I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of the government wasting my money. — Derek.
Sabrina Fells says
The thing that is so compelling is that Pioneer Green is telling all they approach that this is a “done deal” which makes folks I’ve talked to think that they may as well get on the bandwagon for these INDUSTRIAL WIND TURBINES. When I ask them if they know anything about how these things will work they generally say they don’t. PGE doesn’t even go into that if they are not asked specific questions about them. What gets left out is the property damage it will cause just to put them up, the fact that WHEN they catch fire no VFD will have the means to put them out and fire raining down from them fueled by whatever oily substance is in them WILL burn the mountain, parts that fly off of them will damage Lord knows what/who, wildlife will be destroyed, and the vibrations of these things are going to cause medical/health issues. Follow the money. Anytime our government just hands out money willy-nilly the taxpayers lose. These things will not generate enough power through the winds here to power 35,000 homes as they are telling everybody. On top of all of that it WILL ruin the beauty of our beautiful mountain. We should be allowed to know the truth as to why so many places who have these things want rid of them now. As long as PGE is allowed to tell their lies to the public at large we will find ourselves,but mostly our children and grandchildren, on the losing end with them left holding the bag in the removal of these things later down the road.
Paul Crowe says
A done deal? I’m sure they want everyone to think that and it’s the general impression all wind developers want local communities to have about their projects, but it simply isn’t true.
All of the downsides of industrial wind turbines you list in your comment are becoming more known as time goes on, but what few fully understand is how much government money is involved, without production tax credits, renewable energy certificates, investment tax credits and on and on, these things would never get built. The entire wind industry is built on this mad money scramble and they’re in a real rush right now because the PTCs go away December 31st of this year.
The industry can’t support itself, it’s an artificial business built on your tax dollars. Any jobs created only exist because of tax dollars, if that money goes away, so do the jobs. It doesn’t supply reliable energy and what it does produce is expensive.
There’s no upside, it’s just a game to get government handouts.
Pam Vias says
I have a great chart that shows what happens every time the PTC – Government Production Tax Credit stops. You’re right. It’s ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. PG is rushing to try and get a project signed off on so they can get years of Gov’t $$ – all at our expense. Fight it hard and fast !!
Tammy C Truitt says
Pioneer Green has opened a permanent office in Somerset County, MD despite the USFWS report that their 65 turbine project will kill 43 eagles per year. Our officials have decided to believe the undocumented claims Pioneer Green tells them because they want the dollars Pioneer Green is promising the county. The residents are collateral damage. Pioneer Green also took our officials to Sheldon, NY where they spent time with John Knab. The visit was described as an unannounced visit. However, John Knab, provided a tour, introduced them to people who were receiving economic benefit from the turbines, all on his day off. The Monday after Easter 2012 was a town holiday. How generous of Mr Knab to be available on a holiday when his office was closed and he supposedly had no idea officials were coming! Something smells and it isn’t fish.
Rick says
Y’all get tornadoes up there? We get tornadoes. What’s a tornado going to do to a wind turbine? I wonder. Every time I get on the highway to run up to Centre, Cedar Bluff, or Cave Spring, Ga, from Gadsden, I’ll have to look at those darn things cluttering up the ridge. I feel your pain. It’s going to be like all those alternate broadband providers that were sucking on the taxpayer teat. I nearly went with Open Range internet, but nope, problems with the technology, problems with this, problems with that in different locations. Nothing established technology wise. Even had people come to my door trying to sell it. I waited. What happened? They went bankrupt and defaulted on their Gubmint loan to the tune of $73 million of our money. They got what they wanted. Why should it be any different with Pioneer Green. There’s a word for this crony corporatism sucking off government like leeches. It’s called, ‘fascism’.
Rick says
LOL ‘provide power to local communities’. Not US local. We’re Alabama Power. They’re going to sell whatever electricity they manage to scrape up to the TVA. Local means, ‘not where the turbines are’.
Rick says
Oh and the Noccalula Wind Center is going to supply up to 80 Megawatts. What, in a hurricane? The Gadsden Steam Plant runs about 120,000Kw, and that is burning coal ALL THE TIME, but something that depends on the wind we don’t have all THAT much and DON’T have all the time is going to put out 80Mw. Riggggght.
Jona Duncan says
As a resident of Gadsden, Alabama, I thank you for your comparison article. I am sure there are more similarities between our towns in dealing with this company. Your research is the same we have discovered, this company has not completed one project. It is made up of a group of attorneys and a paralegal. From the beginning, they have come into our towns, spoken to officials which hands are tied, and talk like it is a done deal. If you would like to see what our citizens are doing to try to stop the turbines in our area, please visit http://www.nowindal.com or Save Cherokee Rock Village on Facebook.
Respectfully,
Jona Duncan
Pam Vias says
To Paul Crowe:
I can confirm that Mr. Knab was in Alabama at an Open House put on by Pioneer Green. He was brought to tell his story (Deception) about how “no one pays taxes in Sheldon” not mentioning that the ratio of Turbines to Population is nothing like what is proposed in Alabama. and also to testify to the ‘no noise’ promise. (most likely because there’s a gag order in his contract or a ‘pay recind clause’ if he says anything negative). Mr. Knab was dressed in his coveralls and was at the meeting from start to finish. Clearly a Marketing tactic from Pioneer Green.
There was an attempt to put 100 – 450′ turbines on the north part of Lookout Mountain, Georgia by Iberdrola two years ago. We fought and the two county commissions helped stop it. AL is fighting on the south end of the same mountain (with our whooping 5 mph winds) hence PG has gone from earlier statements of the smaller turbines to our group now finding out PG has filed with the FAA to propose the new larger (500′ turbines). To my knowledge, the Pioneer Green entity has never erected a turbine, never mind a 500′ which takes specific equipment, specialized transportation and has not been studied for all the negatives: safety issues, environmental issues, human health issues, noise levels, etc, etc,
Paul Crowe says
John Knab is quite a talker. Wherever Pioneer is trying to put in wind turbines, he’s their “go to” guy. As a comment above notes, the folks in Maryland were ushered up to New York to get the full treatment, too. Makes you wonder why someone would be so willing to go out of his way to say such nice things about wind energy, even traveling down to Alabama to offer his unsolicited opinion. Whether it’s North East, PA or Alabama or Maryland, Pioneer always suggests the same town and the same guy. Hmm, … fascinating.
Actually, those larger turbines you’re learning about are even taller than you think, it looks like that FAA filing is for wind turbines that are 570 feet tall. Those darn things keep growing. Amazing!
Deborah Stowe says
Sorry if my rant seemed inappropriate. Frustrations tend to show when dealing with PG. we do have actions in place to try to stop this but it is scary that our beautiful forest is held as worthless in their eyes. The so called Green that will destroy what generations of people here hold dear and will this be the legacy we leave for our children and future generations?