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News Story Link:
Ocean
Gate windmills draw mixed reviews | NJ.com News Story Link:
Environmentalists
are tilting at windmills | NJ.com Letter to the Editor: Ocean Gate misled on windmill issue | APP Dear noturbine.com: I am writing on behalf of some of the residents
of Ocean Gate which holds the distinction of housing the first municipally
constructed wind turbine in New Jersey. Not only have our Mayor and
Council sacrificed the quality of life of several blocks of residents, but
they are also proceeding with a second turbine despite any evidence that
the first is working to save any money. Our turbine(s) are only 50KW and not the
behemoths that are proposed in Sea Girt and Union Beach, but I invite you
to visit whenever the turbine is running to gauge the noise level which
some of us live with 24/7. The first turbine is about 275 feet from homes
and the second will be even closer. Why has this happened? There was DEP
stimulus money which, along with the BPU's backing, pushed this untried
technology. Our Mayor, never one to shy away from publicity, became the
face of green energy. In addition in March, the turbine failed a night
time noise test administered by the Ocean County Health Department. To
date, there has been no repercussion from that failed test. In the first
week of July, a DEP representative promised to look into the lack of
response by the Health Department. Still nothing! I contend if I ran a
leaf blower at night, there would be someone from some level of government
forcing me to stop. So that's where we stand. We have been ridiculed
by the Mayor and Council and categorized as whiners and "NIMBYS".
Notably, none of them live within earshot of the turbine or are exposed to
one of the most insidious effects - the flicker. When the sun gets behind
that sucker, residents nearby are exposed to a forced light show. One of the closest neighbors has been diagnosed
with vertigo. Another says that his sleep is disturbed not only by the
noise but also by the anticipation of the noise as it may start and stop
several times a night. A new mother had to purchase a white noise machine
for the nursery. All of this in the name of green energy. I understand that the residents surrounding the
newly constructed turbine in Lewes Delaware are experiencing the same
problems. They may have some additional experiences to help you in your
battle. We are not able to go forward without legal
representation and maybe you have some ideas about where we can go for
help. We can't even ask questions about the turbine at Council meetings.
All questions must be submitted in writing to the Borough attorney who
then formulates the answers at his leisure. They have been doing that
since March - hiding behind the shield of possible litigation. No one from
our group has even mentioned the word since we know we don't have legal
representation. We think that the Mayor is considering suing a political Good luck to you.
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