Industrial Wind Turbines and Real Estate

Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware

By Cynthia Blair

Sheldon, NY

saveNYnow@hotmail.com

This past week I received an email from a friend of mine that lives in the nearby town of Cowlesville in Wyoming County. She asked if I was aware of any wind turbine sites that may have been selected near the French/Clinton St. (Rt. 354) area within the town of Bennington. She and her husband saw a house for sale in that neighborhood and might look into it further. I suggested that she contact her town board and planning board, call a trusted local realtor and even people that live in the vicinity of the home for sale and ask detailed questions. Chances are, there is an industrial wind turbine project in some planning stage, and it may be unknown to the general public.

I applaud her insight and precaution into searching for a new home in this area. She had heard some of the turbine issues and understood that it was going to have a major effect on the future of this whole region. Is this a new decisive factor for the sale of property in Wyoming, Genesee, and nearly all the counties in Western New York? You bet it is.

Makes you wonder how many other people have recently signed their names on the dotted line and still have no idea what may be looming on the horizon. Many families have moved here to live a happy life in the beautiful hills of Wyoming County or the rolling countryside of Genessee and Livingston Counties. And how many folks are still so blissfully unaware that, unless they get involved and investigate further, their world is going to undergo drastic changes?

How upset would you be to find, after you are all settled in, the kids are enrolled in school, or your plans for a peaceful, quiet retirement spot, the dream home you worked and saved up for so long is in the in sites of an industrial wind turbine “farm”? You could ask the people in Sheldon, Wethersfield, Perry, Silver Lake, Orangeville, Stafford, Eagle - the list is endless. These people can answer many of the questions that the wind companies avoid, lie about and mislead on day in and day out. Will local realtors and sellers do the same? I doubt it; after all they are our neighbors and friends, right?

So, this is what I want to generate some responses on. Do all New York State realtors take classes on ethics? I’ve seen some companies are now touting this on national TV. Who, if anyone, might be inclined to advise prospective buyers of homes, businesses and even vacant land in a town being handed over to a wind company? Are the realtors going to be held accountable when the dream home they sold to the happy new family turns out to be a nightmare? What is a disclosure clause? How much will be brought out into the open? Would it be a legal obligation, even though the project might be a year or so in the future? What if the new buyer suffers from any number of problems, such as; they can’t resell, or have health, sleeping, phone, TV problems, water wells are ruined, damage to underground springs wipe out natural ponds, the constant noise drives them nuts, and on and on? Are the home owners going to be compensated by the realtor, the town, the county? Is there anyone that will help? What recourse will they have? Can they sue for damages, legal fees, and health care? If they are uninsured, does the state pick up that bill too? Where does moral responsibility fit in?

This subject has to be brought out into the open; we are being beseiged by industrial wind turbine companies from all over the world. We must demand more control. After all, WE live here and we own the land.

Now before you get your knickers in a bunch, calm down. I believe I’ve read most of the so called “studies” from wind companies, and they all use the same spiel. They claim that there are no adverse affects from numerous 400+ foot, honking industrial jet-size turbines, no matter how many they stick in your face (no proof) and that your property values will not go down (no proof) or that they cause harm to anyone, animals, birds, water table, wet lands, traffic, etc. - again, no proof. You see, they are not obligated to prove anything. They say they are charming and appealing, and people will want to move in, live within inhuman setback distances. All BUNK. If you challenge the “studies” and so-called very limited facts they present, YOU will be required to surrender the evidence of how and where you came up with your information.

Most agencies and companies draw comparisons on the 2 “wind farms” that are up and running in NY for their examples. One has well over 100 turbines (Tug Hill) and the other one, which most wind company salesmen like to use for comparison and take day trips with town officials to, is the one in the Town of Fenner with 20 turbines. I’d say for the true, acrid flavor, take a ride to Tug Hill (Maple Ridge) and ask the people there what they have to say. Find a resident that hasn’t sold his soul and signed the 17 page “nuisance agreement” and get some real testimony. Click here if you would like to read a summary of the document for yourself.

Time will tell, will realtors abide by the letter of the law or by the spirit of the law? Injustices over these turbine sites are going on left and right. Good folks are looked upon with loathing by wind company salesmen that are here for one thing; our premium wind at a bargain basement price. The courts are going to be filled with suits and challenges - after all, we are the land of the lawsuit.

Consider everything when you take leisurely drives in the countryside and imagine you’d love to live out here.

Memorize this ancient Latin saying: Caveat Emptor – Let the Buyer Beware.