Wind compensation

I believe wind power is environmentally responsible. However, if one is in favor of more commercial wind farms in Aroostook County, ask yourself what is the benefit to the County and its people? There is likely to be no benefit and certain to be many costs.

The change of scenery for us, our neighbors and tourists is a big cost. The Maine Power Connection, which would allow all the wind energy from wind farms to be exported to southern New England, is expected to cost us $625 million.

The wind developers are big ventures with no benefit to Aroostook County. Think about resources – we usually expect to be paid for our forest, farm and ocean products leaving. Let all future commercial wind farms be subject to a 1 cent per kilowatt-hour tax to benefit Aroostook County and the state of Maine.

This would give us a benefit from the change in scenery with the over 250 miles of new high power lines along with hundreds more wind turbines.

Do not be fooled by the marketing terms like a half-billion dollars invested in Aroostook – 99 percent of this money goes overseas to the factories that make turbines and towers. Only gravel, cement, motels and food benefit Aroostook.

I am a proponent of wind power as I believe it is environmentally responsible, but let us be compensated for living in a changed Aroostook through a resource tax of 1 cent per kwh leaving Aroostook.

Ryan Hines

Hammond