Lyme should permit small, private turbines

Let me begin by helping the town of Lyme board make a decision on privately owned wind turbines. Get an ordinance in place and then get out of the way. Doing nothing is the wrong decision. New London, Conn., took private land. They made the homeowners move out with the expectations of turning it over to Pfizer for higher tax revenue. This property is still vacant. The same thing is happening here in the town of Lyme, but the town does not own the property. The board is dictating what we cannot do with our property. My acreage is remote, and I can't put up my own personal wind turbine.

The board was wrong combining both private and commercial wind turbines into one ordinance. This point was brought up at the board meeting well before the ordinance was passed. Now everything is delayed because of public hearings, court cases, etc. You can't hide behind moratoriums much longer. The courts recently ruled the town has to rethink the wind turbine proposed ordinance. May I remind the board, its track record of getting court judgments in favor of the town has not been good.

I'm entitled to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. I am not happy because the board is infringing on my liberties. Infringing on my liberties, you disrupt my right to life. The hazards associated with a 100-foot tower, noise and visual objectives from whomever are poor excuses. My acreage qualifies as a farm and is registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an agriculture district. I fail to understand why I can irrigate my crops with a windmill and a mechanical pump and not a windmill that generates electricity and use an electrical pump?

God has given man the ability to invent great things. I question our wisdom when some of us reject technology. Until technology comes up with a little fusion generator I put in the house for heat and electricity, I'll be happy with the technology in a small, private wind turbine. May I remind you, there are two small turbines adjacent to the Capitol Building in Washington. Way can't we have them here in our little town of Lyme?

Charles B. Kingsley

Chaumont