NIMBY and
PROUD
To the Editor,
My name is Chad Pepin. I live in Webster Massachusetts. Douglas, a
neighboring town has proposed an 11-turbine, 2.5 Megawatt Wind Farm
literally in my back yard. My 1-acre house lot borders the Douglas Town
line. If the project comes to fruition, I’ll be faced with a 492-foot
turbine less than 1400 feet from my house, with another 4 turbines
within 2000 feet. I, nor any of my fellow Webster residents will receive
any benefit from this project. Douglas will receive the TIF tax
incentives, but Webster will get nothing. I am not allowed to vote at
Douglas’s town meetings.
When this frustrating topic comes up in conversation, I get quickly
classified as a “NIMBY” activist - a radical, selfish resident who
doesn’t want change… “Not In My Back Yard”. I have to wonder exactly
when it became radical to stand up for one’s rights. The day we stop
having the right to defend our homestead is the day we are communists. I
didn’t get that memo.
I am a Real Estate professional. My wife and I own and operate a
successful Real Estate brokerage in Webster MA. The reason I bring this
up is because as a licensed Real Estate professional, I know that every
single homeowner in the United States is conveyed a “bundle of rights”
with each and every Real Estate transaction. One of these rights is “The
Right to Quiet Enjoyment”.
The “Right to Quiet Enjoyment” does not mean you have the right to have
someone arrested for talking on your property. However, it does allow
you to defend your property against nuisance, which can be noise,
traffic or other types of trespass. This is a Civil and Legal right,
which is included with each and every Real Estate transaction. Most
homeowners have no idea whatsoever of this right.
Now let’s talk about my “backyard”. I bought my land in 2000. When I
bought it, I researched the abutting parcels, and made sure I understood
the zoning of the surrounding land. I live in a single family
agricultural development which borders some undeveloped land in Douglas,
as well as 3 or 4 miles of State Forest. The Douglas land abutting my
property was zoned as industrial land. The Douglas Town bylaws stated a
50 to 75 ft max height for any structure, which is just about the
average height of the tree line. I understood this, accepting that if an
industrial complex were to be proposed, it would be similar to our other
industrial parks in the area with light manufacturing or construction. I
did not expect an Airport or Oil Refinery, based on the demographics.
When the Douglas Wind Farm was proposed, we were notified as abutters -
once. We attended the first “informational” meeting. The Wind Developer
was looking for a height and use variance of up to 540 feet. The
developer had well-prepared answers to all our questions, and we weren’t
allowed to speak in any detail. After that, some more meetings were held
– of which we were NOT notified. A variance was then issued, allowing
the developer to move forward with a project of up to 540 feet high…
right in my back yard. How does a town bylaw get by-passed in the blink
of and eye with a 10X height variance with no discussion or vote from
the abutters? I have no idea, but I’m learning fast. By the way, the
population of Douglas (who can vote) is over 3 miles away from the
nearest turbine. One of the Douglas Selectmen was recently asked how the
Douglas Wind Project was going. He replied “I can’t see or hear it from
my back yard.”
This is the “Perfect Storm” for a Wind Developer. The host municipality
is completely in favor because of no perceived impact, and the abutting
municipality has no jurisdiction, so they can be ignored and intimidated
with the NIMBY card. The Wind Developers look at abutters as “hiccups”
in the process, and rely on the fact that a small group of residents
will eventually get overwhelmed and surrender. From day one, they roll
in, pitch the benefits of Green Energy and how wonderful it will be. No
negative impacts are discussed in any detail, and if they are brought
up, the conversation is stifled. It’s a one-way conversation.
Unfortunately for this Wind Developer, our abutting neighborhood has a
high concentration of professionals, many of which are in the Real
Estate, Legal and Financial industries. We have a very clear
understanding of our right to quiet enjoyment as well all of our other
civil rights as property owners. We are proud of our back yards. We
earned them, we paid for them and we aren’t about to lose them to an
ill-planned project sited at least 5 times too close to a residential
neighborhood.
To all of you playing the NIMBY card: You need to really ask yourself if
you’d be willing to “take one for the team” at the expense of your
family. It’s one thing to make a sacrifice for the benefit of your
family, but when a sacrifice will affect your families’ quality of life,
that’s another story. I can tell you with no hesitation whatsoever I
have no shame for refusing to personally subsidize a poorly planned
renewable energy project for the perceived good of ANYONE. I don’t care
what your position is on renewable energy. Monstrous moving towers don’t
belong in MY BACK YARD. They don’t belong in ANYONE’s back yard.
If you told all the State employees in Massachusetts that they would
take a pay cut for each Wind Turbine that was erected, a new buzz phrase
would be coined: “Not In My Back Pocket” and Renewable Energy would
yesterday’s news. This is nothing more than a big game of “hot potato”.
Legislators seem to lean on the anti-NIMBY crusade to convince us common
folk it is selfish to protest progress. Massachusetts State Rep. Paul
Kujawski is in favor of the Douglas Project and also voted YES on the
recent Wind Energy Energy Siting Reform Act H.4955. Ironically, Rep.
Kujawski recently played the NIMBY role to keep a Shopping Mall out of
his “backyard” in Webster MA. He led a swift and surgical defeat at a
Webster Town Meeting. He said the reason he fought against the Mall was
because it was “Too close to the School” which would have been about ½
mile away. I wasn’t aware Shopping Malls were a threat to Schools. Call
me crazy, but I’d actually assume a Shopping Mall could be a positive
thing for kids, providing a safe place to socialize, as well as a place
for teens to find a part-time job.
As for Wind Turbines, I have done my homework. I know the physics behind
these enormous machines. I know they don’t work nearly as well as they
are supposed to. I know exactly how they work. The problem with the
NIMBY critics as most HAVEN’T done much homework beyond “It makes Green
Energy”. The public is incredibly uninformed. Most people think Wind
Turbines are powered by wind. This is a myth. Wind Turbines are powered
by TAXES. If the government subsidies were taken away, wind power would
be gone with the wind.
Four years ago, the global economy went into a downward spiral because
of sub-prime lending which was basically the practice of subsidizing
high-risk borrowers so they could get money they wouldn’t have been able
to get with a conventional loan.
Today, the Wind Energy frenzy is subsidizing wind projects that wouldn’t
be feasible without the grants. Germany has the largest wind power
network in the world. Germany has 25 Gigawatts of wind generation
capacity, but actually produces about 2 Gigawatts. This is less than 10%
efficiency. The UK has similar results with some projects returning only
6% of their capacity. Wind Energy is “Sub-Prime Energy” and the bubble
will burst when the government stops pouring money into it.
Today, Wind Turbines threaten my civil rights and my quality of life.
Tomorrow it might be something else. Regardless of the threat, I will
never be ashamed to defend my right to enjoy and defend my property and
quality of life. I truly feel sorry for anyone who believes we should be
obligated to surrender even one square millimeter of our back yard for
any cause – period.
Chad Pepin
chad.pepin@gmail.com
Now they’re
“talking about talking about maybe doing something!”
To the Editor,
Will Mr. Andrew Dreyfus (the new CEO at BC/BS, Mass.) come to be known
as “Action Andy,” or just another talker? Other than talking, finger
pointing and playing the blame game, what are the health insurance
companies (or anybody else involved) actually doing to contain rising
health care costs? Lora Pellegrini (Mass Association of Health Plans)
constantly complains but offers nothing. James Roosevelt’s (Tufts) main
concern seems only for his company. William Van Fassen and Jay McQuaide
(BC/BS) finally realize that the health insurance companies, health care
providers and government need to “roll up our sleeves and collectively
work to come up with a solution.” Something similar was suggested by Lt.
Governor, Timothy Murray months ago who said, “Get in a room and solve
this problem.” Has anybody representing the health care providers ever
stepped up to the plate? It’s been said that Eric Schultz (Harvard
Pilgrim) will be an important voice “at the table” as the state’s health
care providers, insurance carriers, and policy makers attack rising
costs. O.K., so when the hell is this actually going to happen? Will
talk ever turn into action? No doubt we’ll be hearing about rate
increases before we ever see any results. If only their hot air could
heat the hospitals.
Please prove me wrong. The game plan from the Massachusetts Health
Insurance Companies seems to have their CEO’s (or representatives)
appear in the newspapers as people of action and concern. But when they
get their yearly rate increases approved, they slither back into their
complacent shells only to again emerge when it’s time to attack our
wallets. Is “talking about talking about maybe doing something” ever
going to amount to anything? (Try saying that 3 times fast.)
Ed DeLuca, President,
the Plastic Spoon Revolution - Fighting the high cost of living!
website: theplasticspoonrevolution.com
(and in case anybody really needs to know - I work for a small business
in Massachusetts. I’ve seen my health insurance plans go from something
being affordable and covering everything to becoming an over-priced joke
plagued with high co-pays and deductibles. So there!)
To the Editor:
This year marks the 56th anniversary of the inauguration of the
partnership between the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF)
and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Since 1954, IAFF has
raised nearly $400 million for MDA, contributing a record breaking $26.7
million in 2009 alone. MDA’s Central Massachusetts chapter is deeply
grateful to the firefighters in Dudley for their tremendous support of
MDA’s patient service and research programs during their recent
Fill-The-Boot drive campaign on Saturday August 21st from 9 am to 1 pm
at Webster Dudley town line.
Members of the IAFF Local #4271 raised $2673 to support Central
Massachusetts residents living with neuromuscular disease. These funds
support basic and clinical scientific research, a comprehensive program
of clinical care and support services to individuals and families,
support groups, and a special summer camp program. MDA also improves
lives through advocacy in matters of public policy affecting people with
disabilities and provides widespread professional and public health
education. MDA covers 43 different neuromuscular diseases, including
Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common form of muscular dystrophy
in young boys, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, more commonly
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Everyone in the town of Dudley acknowledged these heroes’ ongoing
support of families MDA serves. As MDA’s largest national sponsor, the
IAFF helps us maintain our research and health care programs, including
MDA clinics at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Mass General Hospital,
Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, New England Medical
Center and Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
“The IAFF is MDA’s biggest champion. The dedicated efforts of fire
fighters and paramedics help fuel our clinics, services, camps and
research programs,” says MDA President and CEO, Gerald Weinberg.
MDA extends its sincere thanks to all the Dudley residents, and those
from surrounding towns, for their generosity.
Please join me in congratulating the Dudley Fire Local #4271 on a job
well done. We are counting on them to help find cures for muscular
dystrophy and other muscle wasting diseases.
Sincerely,
Brittany Wiest
Fundraising Coordinator
Muscular Dystrophy Association |
