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• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Maybe the DEP backed off because they realized the claims put forward by FIWN lacked credibility and scientific merit. The bottom line is the communities of both islands continue to try to find solutions to go beyond compliance. Its time for the small handful of naysayers to put an end to their baseless lawsuit that only seeks to harm our working island communities.

• Anonymous

  I agree with Adam on this.  Fox Islands Electrical Cooperative brought in sound experts and turbine experts to try to develop a solution that worked for everybody, but the FIWN blocked any and all hope for a constructive dialogue by refusing to answer any questions at the recommendation of their lawyers.  The entire meeting consisted of FIWN saying “We have a problem, we can’t tell you what that problem is, but we will insist that you fix the problem that we refuse to tell you about.”  I don’t know how they do it where the people who are part of FIWN are from, but on Vinalhaven, we work with each other first, and if that doesn’t work THEN we seek outside assistance.  FIWN lawyered up before even giving us a chance to compromise.  And then there is the issue of the turbines being out of compliance for extremely brief periods of time and only under certain atmospheric conditions.

• Patten_Pete

  Geez, maybe if the purveyors of this subsidy raiding total scam didn’t lie to everyone about irrefutable severe noise problems, it wouldn’t have come to this. 

  The general public is finally starting to realize that that wind power, once grouped in with motherhood and apple pie, is hardly benign, hardly good and part of the mentality that has gotten this country into $14 trillion in debt.

  We can’t rely on the Federal government to rein in this reckless wasting of money and trampling of people by special interests. So ultimately it will come down to the states and the people. 

  Wind power is already in big trouble in Maine. As more and more scandals regarding wind power are brought out, it will become less and less politically correct. If people think Paul Violette was a problem just watch this space.

• Anonymous

  Excellent article on the collapsing joke of wind power this week.

  Simply google:
  T. Boone’s Windy Misadventure

• Sam

  Many of us are very tired of hearing Alan Barker’s and Adam Lachman’s claims that the neighbors were not involved in the two NREL studies on Vinalhaven.  The names of all participants in both studies were kept confidential.  Their ridiculous claims are based on malicious rumors and are unhelpful to those of us who admit there is a noise problem and hope to resolve it. 

• Anonymous

  is curious…when is BDN or any other major publication going to tell the other side of the story? The one with a happy and proud community who are seeing the benefits of the wind turbines every month in their electric bill. The one where we did all try to work with FIWN but got shot down immediately by their lawyers. The one where we STILL all want to work towards a compromise that benefits everyone. But then that would beg the question, how does one side work toward a compromise when the other side refuses to participate other than to sue? 

• Anonymous

  is curious…when is BDN or any other major publication going to tell the other side of the story? The one with a happy and proud community who are seeing the benefits of the wind turbines every month in their electric bill. The one where we did all try to work with FIWN but got shot down immediately by their lawyers. The one where we STILL all want to work towards a compromise that benefits everyone. But then that would beg the question, how does one side work toward a compromise when the other side refuses to participate other than to sue? 

• Anonymous

  Sue them until
  they scream!

  This is
  occurring all over Maine as these quasi-legally permitted blow toys disrupt abutters.

  The perverted
  LD-2283 that allows these abominations has to be changed.

  Section 375 of
  Maine’s DEP industrial noise regs has to be changed.

  The liars of the
  wind scam will be forced to pay, for a long time as this progresses.

  Mars Hill and
  Vinalhaven are the first of many suits in Maine concerning this wind farce.

  Hopefully the residents
  that approved the lies of this Vinalhaven project will be held responsible for
  their actions. The abutters should get reimbursed for all their losses and
  aggravation of this Baker initiated scam.

  Even ice cream salesmen
  should be held responsible on this little corrupt island in Maine!

• Anonymous

  Even an ISLAND in Maine Does Not Isolate Fools from the Facts.

  “Being dumped by T Boone Pickens is only one of a panoply of problemsfacing the global wind industry. Among the issues: an abundance of relativelycheap natural gas, a growing backlash against industrial wind projects due toconcerns about visual blight and noise, increasing concerns about the murderous effect that wind turbines have on bats and birds, the extremely high costs ofoffshore wind energy, and a new study which finds that wind energy’s ability tocut carbon dioxide emissions have been overstated.”

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QKZ4326QUCJRGKE5YINWZ5NGBE Kris

  To add to Smilinjo’s comment, Fox Island Wind IS working toward reducing the noise of the turbines.   Retrofitted turbine blades are on their way.  The hope is that these new blades will produce less noise than the current ones.  Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that in their coverage?

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  “sue them until they scream”  thanks for making my point for me. 

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a
  year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national
  study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to
  residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level
  knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.

  There are many examples of
  citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine
  state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine
  noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind
  farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom,
  Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine
  noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping
  pills?”

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a
  year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national
  study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to
  residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level
  knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.

  There are many examples of
  citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine
  state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine
  noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind
  farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom,
  Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine
  noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping
  pills?”

• Anonymous

  What does the Maine PUC want from Fox Islands Electric Coop?

  July 29, 2011
  by blogger

  Since no one
  was interested in either the question or the answer, at the FIEC board meeting
  this week, here is what the Maine PUC wants to know: Maine Public Utilities Commission letter to FIEC asking many
  of the same questions Fox Islands Wind Neighbors asked, for a year and a half
  with no response. Frivolous? Don’t think so. ”

• Anonymous

  see  http://fiwn.wordpress.com/

  “Neighbors of the Vinalhaven wind turbine farm filed a lawsuit (Fox Islands Wind Neighbors Petition for Review) against the state of Maine yesterday for failing to enforce noise regulations against Fox Islands Wind, the turbine operator. The neighbors’ lawsuit charges that the decision by Maine DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) on June 30th was arbitrary and capricious and driven by political meddling against the recommendation of DEP regulatory staff.
  Everywhere industrial wind turbines are placed too close to residences, there are complaints. What distinguishes Vinalhaven from other aggrieved victims of wind turbine noise is the extent to which neighbors initiated their own acoustical measurements and engagement with state regulators who admit that state standards fail to capture the acoustical impacts of wind turbines. For a year and a half, Vinalhaven neighbors carefully documented violations of the state noise standard while the wind turbine farm operator, Fox Islands Wind, continuously denied it was breaking state law.

• Sam

  Current electrical bill on Vinalhaven is 12  cents a KWH.  Where is the 6 cents a KWH FIW promised the island?  If the economics are so good, why does FIW refuse to open their books to ratepayers?  Due to the advice of their lawyers, FIW has refused to speak to the neighbors who have reached out to them repeatedly over the past year and a half.  FIWN would very much like to talk with FIW in order to work towards a compromise, but FIW has refused to speak to them since January of 2010.   These are the facts and anyone at FIEC will back up that statement.

• Sam

  This is most definitely the good news and a step in the right direction!   However, according to FIW, the blades will only reduce the noise 2 to 3 dBA which is not enough to make a significant difference in the noise level.  However, there are new blade tips which would reduce the noise another 5 to 6 dBA.  Wouldn’t you think that  FIW would communicate with the neighbors so they could work together to make that happen??  To date, FIW refuses to do so.  How does this attitude benefit the community or help us to resolve the noise issue?

• Sam

  This is most definitely the good news and a step in the right direction!   However, according to FIW, the blades will only reduce the noise 2 to 3 dBA which is not enough to make a significant difference in the noise level.  However, there are new blade tips which would reduce the noise another 5 to 6 dBA.  Wouldn’t you think that  FIW would communicate with the neighbors so they could work together to make that happen??  To date, FIW refuses to do so.  How does this attitude benefit the community or help us to resolve the noise issue?

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  (July 24, 2011) For more than a year and a half, the case of the Vinalhaven wind turbines has become a national study in what can go wrong when wind turbines are placed too close to residences. What is worse: permitting authorities at the state and local level knew of likely noise problems before the project was built.
  There are many examples of citizens protesting after-the-fact. At a recent public hearing in the Maine state capitol of a noise rule to better protect people from industrial turbine noise, citizens from around the state testified how noise from nearby wind farms have turned their lives upside down. One affected neighbor in Freedom, Maine told of asking her children– who can’t sleep because of the wind turbine noise– “Did you brush your teeth, say your prayers, and take your sleeping pills?”
  There are complaints wherever wind turbines are sited too close to where people live, in the U.S. and around the world. What distinguishes Vinalhaven is that neighbors took costly steps of obtaining equipment and acoustic measurement to demonstrate that the turbines operate in violation of state noise regulations. We engaged DEP on a technical level to establish our credentials and then helped do the state’s work in establishing a tight protocol for turbine noise measurement. We expected that a fair regulatory review would follow. We were wrong: Fox Islands Wind has fought the neighbors at every turn.
  In November 2010, the DEP formally notified Fox Islands Wind that it is in violation of the 45dBA night sound limit. Although the agency did require FIW to propose changes to its operations to remedy the violations, it has failed to impose any sanction on the utility. The changes FIW proposed, and that DEP later accepted, will offer no relief to neighbors.
  Fox Islands Wind continues to mislead the community; first about the seriousness of the turbine noise problem, denying access to information, providing incomplete information to the DEP, and continuing to argue that noise violations only occur rarely and under specific wind directions, and all the while telling the public that it is cooperating with neighbors.
  Locally Fox Islands Wind commands local public outreach through inserts in the local Coop utility bills and through publications of the Island Institute owned newspaper, The Working Waterfront. Although our analysis shows that FIEC misleads ratepayers on Vinalhaven about savings generated by the turbines, we have not only be unable to communicate with islanders on an equal footing; Fox Islands Wind continues to spread misinformation about the baseline economics of the project. The utility claims this year’s drop in electricity costs is due to the turbines. In fact, the wholesale markets experienced a 35% drop in the cost of electricity during 2010, which accounts for all the savings ratepayers have seen as compared to last year. The turbines have cost ratepayers rather than saved money. On average over the past year, Vinalhaven ratepayers have spent about 7 ½% more than they would have paid without the turbines. Add to this the cost of bad noise generation models being used by FIW, and the picture begins to become clear.
  Where does this leave us?
  Six months ago, we wrote, “We hope that in 2011, DEP will levy sanctions on Fox Island Wind: turn the turbines off at night or down so that the 45dBA level is never exceeded. With the continued leverage of DEP findings, it is possible that FIW will finally cooperate with neighbors and cease expensive plans that have no result other than deny the facts and to delay compliance.” This hope has not been fulfilled: DEP continues to use neighbors of the wind turbine farm as their “guinea pigs”. The latest effort: a plan by the utility to affix a new surface to the wind turbine blades, that fails to address the fundamental problems of site location and wind shear.
  Six months ago, we also wrote, “We hope for transparency: free access to real time noise level and meteorological data from the wind turbines, and for access to complete information from FIEC and FIW as to the financial arrangements of the turbines.” Maine DEP — at the very moment of shifting the burden of acoustic recordings to the utility– yanked that decision from the hands of staff: wrecking a year and a half of honest investment.
  We wrote, “A year from now, we hope the Maine legislature and Governor’s Office will be more educated about the plight of Vinalhaven neighbors who, through no fault of our own, have been saddled with the enormous financial and physical cost of proving non-compliance.” Our conclusion from the first half of 2011: not yet.
  Six months ago, we expressed the hope “… that the board of directors of FIEC (the local utility) will form independent judgments about the facts and finally talk honestly with us.” So far that has not happened either. On a more positive note, the Maine Public Utilities Commission recently decided to investigate our complaints against Fox Islands Wind. Our efforts have earned significant attention—including front-page stories in the AP, New York Times, Boston Globe and Maine newspapers. News reports come and go, and the turbines churn on. We hope for better and quieter days ahead.
  Here is how you can help: please contribute to …Fox Islands Wind NeighborsPO Box 572Vinalhaven, ME 04863

• Anonymous

  You are most welcome!

• Anonymous

  Stick to banana splits.

• Anonymous

  Stick to banana splits.

• Anonymous

  This project and the consequences of , in effect, Kicking people out of their homes with no prior legal recourse is serious business.
  Why dont you live in the vacated properties , and  pay for them as well if the turbines are so wonderful.

• Anonymous

  perhaps you misread my above comment….I never once called the turbines “wonderful”. I am not underestimating that there MAY be a SLIGHT noise problem. However, it takes two REASONABLE sides to work together without the constant threats of lawsuits, out right lies and personal attacks that, thus far, have been the modus operandi of FIWN. If there are issues, we all need to make concessions to improve matters. The word compromise comes to mind. But then again, after reading your other comments, mostly copied and pasted from the FIWN website, compromise is not what FIWN is after. And I am honestly curious…who has vacated their property? 

• Anonymous

  perhaps you misread my above comment….I never once called the turbines “wonderful”. I am not underestimating that there MAY be a SLIGHT noise problem. However, it takes two REASONABLE sides to work together without the constant threats of lawsuits, out right lies and personal attacks that, thus far, have been the modus operandi of FIWN. If there are issues, we all need to make concessions to improve matters. The word compromise comes to mind. But then again, after reading your other comments, mostly copied and pasted from the FIWN website, compromise is not what FIWN is after. And I am honestly curious…who has vacated their property? 

• Anonymous

  perhaps you misread my above comment….I never once called the turbines “wonderful”. I am not underestimating that there MAY be a SLIGHT noise problem. However, it takes two REASONABLE sides to work together without the constant threats of lawsuits, out right lies and personal attacks that, thus far, have been the modus operandi of FIWN. If there are issues, we all need to make concessions to improve matters. The word compromise comes to mind. But then again, after reading your other comments, mostly copied and pasted from the FIWN website, compromise is not what FIWN is after. And I am honestly curious…who has vacated their property? 

• Anonymous

  perhaps you misread my above comment….I never once called the turbines “wonderful”. I am not underestimating that there MAY be a SLIGHT noise problem. However, it takes two REASONABLE sides to work together without the constant threats of lawsuits, out right lies and personal attacks that, thus far, have been the modus operandi of FIWN. If there are issues, we all need to make concessions to improve matters. The word compromise comes to mind. But then again, after reading your other comments, mostly copied and pasted from the FIWN website, compromise is not what FIWN is after. And I am honestly curious…who has vacated their property? 

• Anonymous

  perhaps you misread my above comment….I never once called the turbines “wonderful”. I am not underestimating that there MAY be a SLIGHT noise problem. However, it takes two REASONABLE sides to work together without the constant threats of lawsuits, out right lies and personal attacks that, thus far, have been the modus operandi of FIWN. If there are issues, we all need to make concessions to improve matters. The word compromise comes to mind. But then again, after reading your other comments, mostly copied and pasted from the FIWN website, compromise is not what FIWN is after. And I am honestly curious…who has vacated their property? 

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T6SIHWKU2RKGLEAFYACM6SFC2Q Dennis

  Political involvement in the DEP on behalf of
  the wind lobby has been a fact of life throughout the Baldacci administration
  and evidently continues unabated.

  It has been proven  again and again that towns and
  people cannot depend on the Maine DEP to provide any protection from the noise and shadow flicker of wind turbines.

  Look at the turbine noise problems in Mars
  Hill, Freedom and Vinalhaven if you need further proof of DEP’s
  ineffectiveness.

  There has not been a wind turbine project in
  a populated area of Maine that has not caused unbearable noise problems for some
  residents.

  Each and every town must have  it’s own ordinance
  to provide protection for their residents.

  The sad truth is that the politicians and
  wind developers just don’t give a damn about a few people being forced from
  their homes and turbines will continue to be placed to close.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  That just shows how out of touch you are. Nice try though. Why don’t you stick to the facts and to positive actions that benefit our island communities! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Actually there is a public record of FIWN neighbors explicitly refusing to cooperate with these studies. Come to the table without lawyers and with a real aim at working on solutions and you’d be surprised what is possible. Its pretty evident what the end game here is…personal gain at a community’s expense.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Look at the price projections of electricity over the 20 year period and you’d learn how FIW stabilizes and reduces the rate paid on the islands. We need to start thinking long term about our energy needs and costs and not just base our analysis on a small market fluctuations.

• Sam

  Good point.  Take a look at long term projections for electricity over the next 20 years and you will discover that prices are slated to go DOWN due to the new technology related to removing natural gas from shale.  FIW bought in before this technology was available at a higher price than necessary. 

• PabMainer

  Adrienne Bennett, spokeswoman for Gov. Paul Lepage, “declined to comment”……please Adrienne do your job and speak to the press so that the esteemed Governor does not have to……thank you…..

• PabMainer

  Adrienne Bennett, spokeswoman for Gov. Paul Lepage, “declined to comment”……please Adrienne do your job and speak to the press so that the esteemed Governor does not have to……thank you…..

• PabMainer

  Adrienne Bennett, spokeswoman for Gov. Paul Lepage, “declined to comment”……please Adrienne do your job and speak to the press so that the esteemed Governor does not have to……thank you…..

• PabMainer

  Adrienne Bennett, spokeswoman for Gov. Paul Lepage, “declined to comment”……please Adrienne do your job and speak to the press so that the esteemed Governor does not have to……thank you…..

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Sam

  Come to WHAT table?  FIW refuses to talk with the neighbors and no decisions can be made without FIW involvement.  All responses to the NREL study were strictly confidential.  Any “public record”  concerning participation in the study has to be bogus.  If you question the truth of this statement, ask FIEC who agreed to follow along with NREL’s guidelines.

• Anonymous

  FIWN couldn’t care less about Vinalhaven.  They only care about what THEY can get out of a frivolous lawsuit.  And when they know they have no factual basis for their arguments, they resort to personal attacks, in your case they base it on a business you owned several years ago but no longer operate.  Maybe if we had Fox Islands Wind back then, the electric bill wouldn’t have driven you out of your prime Main Street location.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  I live in a property located closer to the wind turbines than any of the properties that have been vacated.  I see no reason to move into your property, Arthur.  In fact, If I moved into your property, I would be farthur away from the turbines than I am right now.  So in all likelihood, a move there would make very little difference in the effects I’m feeling, which is NO EFFECT AT ALL.  This is a trumped up and frivolous lawsuit by some money grubbing non-natives who lawyered up and refused to cooperate with DEP and Acoustic experts who were brought in at great expense to the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative ratepayers (that being the entire town) and when they were here to answer your questions, you stonewalled them.  I gue$$ everyone with half a brain can $ee what TRULY motivate$ my neighbor$.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  You do realize you are suing the entire population of Vinalhaven and North Haven, right?  Not some evil corporate entity, but rather the very neighbors you so sought to be in a community with.  But you said it best.  “$ue them until the $cream.”  Your motive$ are becoming $o very clear now.

• Anonymous

  To be in compliance, the turbines have to be at 45db at night.  The so called violations that FIWN recorded were an inconsistent 48db under specific atmospheric conditions.  2-3 db is EXACTLY what is needed to satisfy the claim they are making.

• Anonymous

  Also, when communicating with the neighbors, FIEC and the sound experts they brought in asked them specifically what the problem was.  FIWN answer- Our lawyers told us not to discuss that with you.  FIEC asked them what they wanted for a resolution to their problem.  FIWN answer- Our lawyers told us not to discuss that with you.  This was from the onset.  They lawyered up without even trying to find a compromise, and then stonewalled any and all attempts to rectify the situation.

• Anonymous

  You clearly have never been to a FIEC board meeting.  I was a participant in the NREL study because guess what, I live in the so-called danger zone.  I’m referring to the several attempts made by FIEC, The DEP and sound/acoustic experts brought in from all over the world to try to find an amicable solution only to be denied by FIWN because their lawyers told them not to work together with FIEC for a solution.

• Anonymous

  You clearly have never been to a FIEC board meeting.  I was a participant in the NREL study because guess what, I live in the so-called danger zone.  I’m referring to the several attempts made by FIEC, The DEP and sound/acoustic experts brought in from all over the world to try to find an amicable solution only to be denied by FIWN because their lawyers told them not to work together with FIEC for a solution.

• G. Alan Woods

  SOURCE PLEASE:

  ” …wind power remains popular with the overwhelming majority of Mainers, according to recent polls.”

• G. Alan Woods

  SOURCE PLEASE:

  ” …wind power remains popular with the overwhelming majority of Mainers, according to recent polls.”

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Actually, that comment had nothing to do with anyone’s lawyers.  It is my understanding that a certain neighbor’s answer to FIEC’s question was that the neighbors did not create the problem, and that FIEC should come up with some solutions.  Since that time, FIW has gotten e-mails from neighbors clarifying the problem:  TOO MUCH NOISE!    FIWN’s lawyer has also written  FIW and FIEC’s lawyers asking for dialogue and FIW and FIEC’s lawyers have refused.  From the beginning the FIWN’s  lawyer suggested that the neighbors work with the community.  FIW’s decision to not speak with the neighbors ended communication. 

• Sam

  Exactly.  FIW’s motivation for adding the new blade technology  is to try and bring the turbines into compliance.  Those of us that live near the turbines can all hope and pray that it will make a difference with the turbine noise level. 

• Sam

  I can not imagine where you get your information, but you are wrong.  FIWN has only ONE lawyer, unlike FIW who has several.  FIWN’s lawyer has encouraged the neighbors to work with FIW and FIEC.  However, FIW refuses to communicate.  George Baker confirmed that he refuses to speak to the neighbors in a community meeting.  I fail to understand why you continue to try and spread malicious rumors which add nothing to the equation. 

• Penny Gray

  I agree.  What are these polls they keep spouting about?  If wind power remains popular in Maine after all the myths that have been debunked about it and everything that’s going on in Europe, the Maine media should be ashamed.  They’ve done nothing but promote industrial wind without researching it at all.  That’s understandable with Portland Press Herald and Maine Media, which is invested in industrial wind, but I expect better reporting from the BDN.

• Penny Gray

  I agree.  What are these polls they keep spouting about?  If wind power remains popular in Maine after all the myths that have been debunked about it and everything that’s going on in Europe, the Maine media should be ashamed.  They’ve done nothing but promote industrial wind without researching it at all.  That’s understandable with Portland Press Herald and Maine Media, which is invested in industrial wind, but I expect better reporting from the BDN.

• Penny Gray

  I agree.  What are these polls they keep spouting about?  If wind power remains popular in Maine after all the myths that have been debunked about it and everything that’s going on in Europe, the Maine media should be ashamed.  They’ve done nothing but promote industrial wind without researching it at all.  That’s understandable with Portland Press Herald and Maine Media, which is invested in industrial wind, but I expect better reporting from the BDN.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Sam, 
  Based on your comments I take it that you don’t live on the island nor are involved actively in this the ongoing discussion on island about the Fox Islands Wind Project and the many steps that have been taken to address the concerns of a small handful of neighbors. Only ONE party is pursuing litigation, a legal process that has cost both islands over $500k and counting. FIW and FIEC continue to communicate with the community and work with community members. Go to any monthly public FIEC meeting or call the Coop and you’d quickly learn that these parties are open to communication and actively working on this issue. How do you explain the studies down to identify the extent of the issues, the NREL studies and most recently, the new blade treatment underway to help mitigate the noise complaints from a few households (mind you at an expense to the community given the down time of each turbine). The assertion that FIW refuses to communicate is FALSE. Please stop attack our working island communities with salacious, nonfactual claims. Its only making matters worse and leading to more support for a community project that is supported by over 95% of the island community. If you have a legitimate concern, bring it to the table, at a monthly meeting or to the staff at FIEC. That is if resolution is something you truly care about.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Sam, 
  Based on your comments I take it that you don’t live on the island nor are involved actively in this the ongoing discussion on island about the Fox Islands Wind Project and the many steps that have been taken to address the concerns of a small handful of neighbors. Only ONE party is pursuing litigation, a legal process that has cost both islands over $500k and counting. FIW and FIEC continue to communicate with the community and work with community members. Go to any monthly public FIEC meeting or call the Coop and you’d quickly learn that these parties are open to communication and actively working on this issue. How do you explain the studies down to identify the extent of the issues, the NREL studies and most recently, the new blade treatment underway to help mitigate the noise complaints from a few households (mind you at an expense to the community given the down time of each turbine). The assertion that FIW refuses to communicate is FALSE. Please stop attack our working island communities with salacious, nonfactual claims. Its only making matters worse and leading to more support for a community project that is supported by over 95% of the island community. If you have a legitimate concern, bring it to the table, at a monthly meeting or to the staff at FIEC. That is if resolution is something you truly care about.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  The price over time is stable and lower than the market price if we did not go with the development of Fox Island Wind.  Next myth you would like us to debunk?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  The price over time is stable and lower than the market price if we did not go with the development of Fox Island Wind.  Next myth you would like us to debunk?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  The price over time is stable and lower than the market price if we did not go with the development of Fox Island Wind.  Next myth you would like us to debunk?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  The price over time is stable and lower than the market price if we did not go with the development of Fox Island Wind.  Next myth you would like us to debunk?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  48 dba at infrequent times that amount to about 10 hours over the course of the year. Is over $500k and counting worth 10 hours per year when the turbines are not in compliance? Could we have achieved this result without burdening our community with more costs? If FIWN cared about the community, they would do everything in their power to exhaust all community avenues and efforts to resolve this not at a cost to the people of Vinalhaven and North Haven. To not do so, only demonstrates their self-interested intent. We can do better than that.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Dialogue? I’m not sure how dialogue equals threats of a class action suit and a refusal to participate in objective studies aimed at addressing these concerns.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Sadly, more misinformation from the well-funded FIWN machine that just simply refuses to work with the community to resolve these issues without expensive lawyers and a process that only aims to hurt the working community. Please stop. Let’s work together as a community an honor the people who have for years struggled to survive on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Sadly, more misinformation from the well-funded FIWN machine that just simply refuses to work with the community to resolve these issues without expensive lawyers and a process that only aims to hurt the working community. Please stop. Let’s work together as a community an honor the people who have for years struggled to survive on our islands.

• Sam

  Thank you, Adam, for giving all of us a perfect example of the kind of false rhetoric your group has been sprouting for the past year and a half.  You are not interested in listening, compromising,  or persuing any sort of productive dialogue which could improve matters.   If you really care about the island and its “working population”, as you profess, best to step aside and let those people who truly want to find some answers do so or go to the FIEC board meeting yourself and demand that FIW comes to this “ table” you think is so readily available to the neighbors.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Your claim that FIW and FIEC refuses to communicate is false. If you are going to engage in this discussion, please speak truthfully. We are all tired of misinformation and efforts to mislead the public.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Your claim that FIW and FIEC refuses to communicate is false. If you are going to engage in this discussion, please speak truthfully. We are all tired of misinformation and efforts to mislead the public.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Your claim that FIW and FIEC refuses to communicate is false. If you are going to engage in this discussion, please speak truthfully. We are all tired of misinformation and efforts to mislead the public.

• Sam

  Good thinking.  The neighbors are making a fortune on lost property values, paying for their lawyer and acoustical engineers to insist that FIW obey the law, and also paying the current high FIEC electrical rates AND the cost of FIW’s  multiple lawyers.  It does sound like you have half a brain.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Can you prove lost property values? Is it the 50-60 % loss in value that some members in FIWN have falsely alluded to? Only FIWN decided to go the litigation route, at everyone’s loss.

• Sam

  George Baker announced in a community meeting last August that  FIW would not speak to the neighbors.   He has refused to do so for over a year.  This is old news.

• Sam

  If you read the above article, it is clear the FIWN are suing the DEP for not following through on their own staff’s recommendations and doing their job.  There is nothing in this suit that involves money.  It has to do with Maine’s noise compliance laws and back door politics.  Seems to me before you get everyone on the island riled up, you should take a longer look at the material explaining the lawsuit between FIWN and the DEP! 

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Sam, you made a claim about property values. Can you please back it up?  Also regarding your claim that this suit doesn’t pertain to money, how do you justify the over $500k in legal bills that the Coop members have had to pay as a result of these tactics. Seems to many as a ill-advised attempt to resolve an issue that could very well be addressed by working together as a community.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Again untrue. Call the Coop. Speak to Board members of both FIEC and FIW. Get beyond this inaccurate, childish retort of “oh he won’t speak to us”.  At last check, Mr. Baker is not a ratepayer of FIEC and it is the ratepayers of FIEC who control and oversee FIW.

• Anonymous

  The lawyers for the 18 families of the Mars Hill community surrounding the wind farm advised them not to talk openly until after the wind farm was completed. Since this would be the same aim of First Wind, one wonders . That lawyer was fired. The town of Mars Hill was led to believe that the power would be for their town. Later, it was found out that the power was sold to Canada. First Wind did not want to admit it; they called it a trade secret.

• Anonymous

  And why is the LePage administration also protecting wind power after he campaigned against it. Are we all held hostage by multi national corporations?

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Lost property values, health problems are reason to sue the corporation and state that enabled this criminal activity in the first place. People without clout would go to jail. Until this case is solved, the Bowers Mt. wind farm should not be permitted. I read the pdf yesterday, there is collusion with state licensing agencies and First Wind.

• Anonymous

  Why prove lost property values? The evidence is out in the open. Ugly turbines…noise that requires children to take sleeping pills. Every time a new wind farm is proposed in upper state ME, people living close to the others testify about the noise. The state agencies hide these complaints. DEP especially. And of course First Wind always acts surprised when people complain. They do not handle the complaints but continue with their subterfuge. Collusion. We need a justice system which is fair to both sides, not just corporations.

• Anonymous

  This article is different. Although many lives have been ruined because of lack of truth in the media, we have to see that there is a change. Better late than never. Now there needs to be community support for the people who are suffering from the state wide collusion.

• Sam

  Adam, you can do your own research on property values and wind turbines.  You are the one that came up with the percentages.  As for the expenses FIW has spent on lawyers, rather than looking for solutions with the neighbors, the MPUC has demanded an accounting of their expenses and hopefully we will all know the amount tomorrow, when they are required to present their financial accounting for the wind project.  FIW has  refused to open their books to ratepayers, but  tomorrow we should all know what the story is, unless their lawyers attempt another delaying strategy, their specialty. This is where the community money has gone to delay, delay, and more delay.

• Anonymous

  Get a natural gas generator, contract with a shale gas producer, and throw the blow toys away.
  In dealing with a loser, cut your loses fast and reinvest, you had basic economics did you not?
  You and others  screwed up and will take a good financial hit.Let Baker swing slowly in the breeze.
  You are young enough to recover, buy a vamilla cone and relax, it is only money. For others, throw the toys away and get a dense fossil fuel power source for the island, avaliable 23/7/365 at reasonable cost that lets your neighbors  sleep and doesnt despoil their real assets.
  We hope the suit drives that home, and you gain  respect for the people you harmed by paying the damages.

• Anonymous

  Get a natural gas generator, contract with a shale gas producer, and throw the blow toys away.
  In dealing with a loser, cut your loses fast and reinvest, you had basic economics did you not?
  You and others  screwed up and will take a good financial hit.Let Baker swing slowly in the breeze.
  You are young enough to recover, buy a vamilla cone and relax, it is only money. For others, throw the toys away and get a dense fossil fuel power source for the island, avaliable 23/7/365 at reasonable cost that lets your neighbors  sleep and doesnt despoil their real assets.
  We hope the suit drives that home, and you gain  respect for the people you harmed by paying the damages.

• Anonymous

  They screwed up big , ‘the big brains of Vinalhaven and the guru from Harvard”.
  Scams have a way of being discovered over time, even by wide eyed supporters.
  As natural gas lines sprout all over Maine, Vinalhaven will pay higher rates for a long time for the blow toys , in costs and lies produced by Baker et al.
  They will serve as symbol of fools, worshiping to towering blow toys .

• Anonymous

  They screwed up big , ‘the big brains of Vinalhaven and the guru from Harvard”.
  Scams have a way of being discovered over time, even by wide eyed supporters.
  As natural gas lines sprout all over Maine, Vinalhaven will pay higher rates for a long time for the blow toys , in costs and lies produced by Baker et al.
  They will serve as symbol of fools, worshiping to towering blow toys .

• Anonymous

  They screwed up big , ‘the big brains of Vinalhaven and the guru from Harvard”.
  Scams have a way of being discovered over time, even by wide eyed supporters.
  As natural gas lines sprout all over Maine, Vinalhaven will pay higher rates for a long time for the blow toys , in costs and lies produced by Baker et al.
  They will serve as symbol of fools, worshiping to towering blow toys .

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  And pigs fly of course.

• Anonymous

  None of this would have happened if the state had stricter siting regs. 52 legislators have done their homework and 25 or so more need to be responsible and get up to speed for Maine citizens.

• Sam

  You are correct, Arthur, although it gives me no pleasure to say so.  The ENTIRE community bought into this project on false premises.  We were ALL the wide eyed supporters and now we are learning one of the hard lessons of life:  Do your own research and don’t trust what you are told.  The neighbors who have been on the receiving end of the noise were just the first ones out the door to do the research.  Many islanders who ,live further from the noise and seem to think it is OK to ask their neighbors to live with “white” noise and worse!  24/7,  haven’t started to ask the hard questions of FIEC and FIW .   However, as the evidence begins to surface, it will become painfully clear that we all have been duped and we have an expensive mess on our hands.  There are no victors here.

• Sam

  You are correct, Arthur, although it gives me no pleasure to say so.  The ENTIRE community bought into this project on false premises.  We were ALL the wide eyed supporters and now we are learning one of the hard lessons of life:  Do your own research and don’t trust what you are told.  The neighbors who have been on the receiving end of the noise were just the first ones out the door to do the research.  Many islanders who ,live further from the noise and seem to think it is OK to ask their neighbors to live with “white” noise and worse!  24/7,  haven’t started to ask the hard questions of FIEC and FIW .   However, as the evidence begins to surface, it will become painfully clear that we all have been duped and we have an expensive mess on our hands.  There are no victors here.

• Patten_Pete

  What on earth is Baker? How does one accurately describe this life form?

• Patten_Pete

  What on earth is Baker? How does one accurately describe this life form?

• Patten_Pete

  What on earth is Baker? How does one accurately describe this life form?

• Patten_Pete

  What on earth is Baker? How does one accurately describe this life form?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  What is the this? Two communities that have stabilized their energy costs and needs by investing in a local, clean and cheaper alternative?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Marybelle, where is the evidence? Can you please cite cases on Vinalhaven where property values have been aversely affected by the community wind project? Which children are taking sleeping pills on Vinalhaven? How is it that neighbors closer than those who make up FIWN have no complaints with the project and the noise isn’t bothersome?  Please don’t misinform the public about our community owned and operated wind project that has stabilized rates and contributed helped both island communities in their efforts to secure long term sustainability for the year-round working population.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  No. You’ve gotten it wrong. Individuals who organized FIWN have erroneously claimed in off-island publications that property values have been impacted by 50-60%. Without any basis.  FIW and FIEC continues to be committed to compliance and has made every effort to share with the ratepayers information pertaining to the community wind project. This is true all the while a few neighbors have essentially pursued a class action suit against the residents of both island communities. Its time to work productively together without lawyers and stop holding the community hostage by continuing to rack up legal bills that only end up in our bills in the form of higher rates. There is certainly a better way.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  No. You’ve gotten it wrong. Individuals who organized FIWN have erroneously claimed in off-island publications that property values have been impacted by 50-60%. Without any basis.  FIW and FIEC continues to be committed to compliance and has made every effort to share with the ratepayers information pertaining to the community wind project. This is true all the while a few neighbors have essentially pursued a class action suit against the residents of both island communities. Its time to work productively together without lawyers and stop holding the community hostage by continuing to rack up legal bills that only end up in our bills in the form of higher rates. There is certainly a better way.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  No. You’ve gotten it wrong. Individuals who organized FIWN have erroneously claimed in off-island publications that property values have been impacted by 50-60%. Without any basis.  FIW and FIEC continues to be committed to compliance and has made every effort to share with the ratepayers information pertaining to the community wind project. This is true all the while a few neighbors have essentially pursued a class action suit against the residents of both island communities. Its time to work productively together without lawyers and stop holding the community hostage by continuing to rack up legal bills that only end up in our bills in the form of higher rates. There is certainly a better way.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  So you’re advocating having the community lose all for the gain of those who can’t seem to work on solutions and in an open and honest manner. Your tone suggests that all you care about is your own self-interest. Fortunately, as has been proven in many cases in the past, working together in the interest of community is what prevails on our islands.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Again, a misunderstanding of the economics of the community wind project.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Again, a misunderstanding of the economics of the community wind project.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Again, a misunderstanding of the economics of the community wind project.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Again, a misunderstanding of the economics of the community wind project.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  How is stabilizing rates and bringing down the cost of electricity over the life of the project false premises. We invested in a project that an overwhelming majority of members of both islands already can see the benefits. It doesn’t help that a few, self-interested parties who live farther than  some of those who have no problems with the project cannot seem to work together as a community on a positive solution.

• Sam

  Good try, Adam.  There is no class action suit against any community.  If you READ the article above and follow the links you will discover that FIWN is suing the state of Maine and the DEP for not doing their job or following the advice of their own staff.  Seems to me your goal is to stir up trouble and upset the community.  Sorry to disappoint you.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  No need to play the semantics game. FIWN is intent on pursuing legal recourse, first by overwhelming the process with flooding the DEP with unsubstantiated and unscientific noise complaints (18 out of 19 were rejected) and now by suing the state. Its an approach that values litigation over working with the community. It is publicly known that this myopic, self-interested approach has cost our island community over $500k and counting in legal bills. Its disgraceful to not put faith in the community. 

• Betty

  It seems that the economics of the project were indeed poorly planned.  As you may learn if you ever get into business school, you need to do some scenario planning…best case, worst case, regulatory risk, environmental risk, etc, etc, and then plan for contingencies.  It appears that Guru Baker only took the best case and his contignency was to blame everything else on the neighbors and to pit one islander against the other.  Sounds like you have swallowed the cool aid and refuse to do any of your own research and instead  just continue to regurgitate the play-book.

• Betty

  The $500 K (if indeed it was that, because FIW told the PUC that it was well less than this) should be offset against the operation of the windmills beyond regualtory limits. While the DEP suggested some minor revisions about what should be done, none other than G Baker said in a meeting with DEP officials that if FIW was forced to comply the project would no longer be viable. (check on the DEP notes yourself).  That was the reason that FIW spent all that money…it was  to protect against their planning errors.  It was a calculated ploy.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  It’s pretty simple. If FIWN had worked with the community and FIEC and cooperated with several efforts to go BEYOND COMPLIANCE, $500k would not have spent on legal bills paid by the ratepayers of both islands. Unfortunately a few handful of individuals on the island have become mere pawns of a larger battle being waged off island by interests that could care less about our working island communities.

• Betty

  I tire of your commenting as though you are one of the “hard working community.”  You are at best a part timer who has latched on to this issue to try to get some recognition and respect.  I am afraid that you have a long row to hoe along this dimension.
  As I undertand from one of the neighbors, well after FIWn even counsulted with an attorney, you stood in their living room and suggested a community committee that you were going to spearhead.  They agreed enthusiastically to openning up any kind of communication possible.  Somewhere along the line, you must have gotten distracted and decided that maximum vitriole would be a safer bet.  So much for cooperation and help from you on this score.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Betty,
  I invite you come out to the Fox Islands and talk to the residents of Vinalhaven and North Haven directly and learn firsthand about the project, its rationale and benefits that have been realized in the first 2 years. Your comment here makes absolutely no sense. George Baker is not a rate payer of the Fox Islands Electric Coop though his contribution and work on the FIW project has helped stabilize rates and secure a better future for the working community of both islands. He should be commended for his work and his time that came during his sabbatical.  The project as designed has already proven successful in delivering reliable, cheaper power to the island communities. What cannot be foreseen was a protracted, avoidable legal course taken by  a small handful of individuals who refuse to work with the community and understand that the results of their actions have only benefited the lawyers.  

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4201559 Adam Lachman

  Betty, 
  As one who has participated as a small business owner on both islands, I know the extent of the hard working community on the islands. Many are close friends and peers and it is this firsthand experience that makes one understand the threat that these few narrow-minded individuals have created by pursuing an expensive, unproductive legal process.  One has to fully respect and understand what it means to survive on these islands, the impact of the utility bills especially at a time of great economic uncertainty.  

  Its time we work together and do so in the spirit of community. I’ve never strayed from that position, from my time in the Wylie’s living room and to this day.  People are getting tired of misinformation that they read on a regular basis in the press and do not appreciate individuals choosing to work with lawyers over working with each other to resolve their issues.  I still believe we can do better. Why has FIWN not exhausted the process of working with the coop and members of the community? Why have they continually distorted the public record and attacked anyone who calls them out for an destructive tactic of using lawyers instead of building a process that is credible and thorough to alleviate their issues? 

  I still think a community advisory committee would be a good idea – for the record, I never intended to spearhead it, rather one involved in these conversations from the early stages, I understand and value what we as a community can achieve when we work together and have tried to make that relevant and a distinction to the alternative of using lawyers.  How are the legal pursuits bringing us closer to an effective solution and at what cost?

  There is still time to avoid a disastrous outcome.  Let’s put faith in the community and work together. Its up to FIWN to take that step and I truly believe many are waiting to see if they are committed to this end. Unfortunately, the actions thus far have proved otherwise at the expense of the entire community of both islands.