Wind power… it’s sustainable … it burns no fossil fuels…it produces no air pollution. What’s more, it cuts down dependency on foreign oil. That’s what the people of Meredith, in upstate New York first thought when a wind developer looked to supplement the rural farm town’s failing economy with a farm of their own — that of 40 industrial wind turbines. WINDFALL, Laura Israel’s, feature-length film, documents how this proposal divides Meredith’s residents, as they fight over the future of their community. Attracted at first to the financial incentives that would seemingly boost their dying economy, the townspeople grow increasingly alarmed as they discover the impacts that the 400-foot high windmills slated for Meredith would bring to their community. Beautifully photographed, WINDFALL looks at both sides of wind energy development.
We are working to get a public showing of this movie in the area for everyone interested in viewing it and we’ll announce time, date and location as soon as we have it.
See the movie trailer below:
Concerned township resident says
Everyone of these concerns and fears are addressed in Pioneer Greens leases that the land owners has signed. The land owners of North East love this community and have done everything they could think of to protect all who live here. Please take the time to meet with these land owners and discuss these issues before you make discissions about something, you admit to, you have not be concerned about until now. We all know everything on the internet is true or it could not be posted.
Paul Crowe says
Instead of any one of us meeting with land owners, why don’t those individuals who support the wind turbines, like yourself, make their case right here, online, where everyone can read what they have to say? We need a discussion of the issues where everyone can weigh the pros and cons and make their own decisions. I, for one, would love to hear what you have to say.
If representatives of Pioneer Green Energy want to join in, great! Glad to have ’em, but if the only ones they talk to are those who are already in agreement or are benefiting from the leases, the rest of the community will still be in the dark, and no one should be surprised that we might have a lot of questions and concerns.
Tammy C Truitt says
Pioneer Green has been lurking around my community in Somerset Co. MD for over four years now. During the last 15 months they have said, “we want to work with residents and be open about the project”.
A map of turbine sights for PHASE 1 was filed with the FAA 10 months ago. A citizen stumbled across it in August. Pioneer Green is refusing to meet with concerned citizens who do not reside within the footprint of this phase of the project.
Most land leasers do not say a word. The ones who do, proclaim they know what is best for us. This is very disturbing. The wealthy, politically-connected minority who stand to profit, get to chose how the rest of us will have to live.
Ordinances are in place to protect residents from non-compatible development . That is why there are zones. Any allowance for industrial wind turbines must retain that quality of compatibility and protection.
After a project is installed and residents express problems, Pioneer Green’s defense is going to be that the criteria of the ordinance was met. This is why your ordinance must protect citizens.
Pioneer Green is well aware of the problems you will face. Their late stage developer, Paul Harris, is offering people in the footprint $6,000 to sign a release. This money will not be enough to cover electric rate increases. And will certainly not be compensation for the loss in property value.
Taking this type of payment might also release Pioneer Green from damages. This allows them to bolster claims that fewer people are suffering due to industrial wind, because there are fewer litigants when complaints are filed.
Pioneer Green knows every trick in the book.
Tom Wasilewski says
I want to thank Tammy Truitt for sharing information about Pioneer Green Energy’s project in Somerset County, Maryland near Salisbury, MD on the eastern shore of Maryland. This is an area which is very important to migrating and resident waterfowl, bald eagles, some wintering golden eagles, and many other species of birds as it is located near large and significant national wildlife refuges, sandwiched in between the nearby Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean coastal area. Not far from Washington D.C., and the location of so many so-called “environmental” organizations. The tragedy is that the federal, state, and local governments, who should be protecting the environment and wildlife are letting this happen on yet another wind turbine project scam.
Tom Wasilewski
Edinboro, PA. 814-734-3653