The recent unanimous opposition from Kent County Commissioners and State Senator Steve Hershey, along with legions of community members have prompted additional opposition to the Apex Wind Turbine project being considered by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The proposed 49, 500 ft tall wind turbines would be placed between Kennedyville and Galena.
Here, Washington College Interim President Jay Griswold shares his letter to Senate President Mike Miller, and urges us all to become active in the opposing this project.
To the members of the Washington College Community,
Last week, the Kent County Commissioners voted unanimously to oppose an application by Apex Clean Energy to the Maryland Public Service Commission to install 49, 500-foot tall wind turbines in northern Kent County. They took this action for three main reasons.
First, the process being employed by Apex Clean Energy essentially usurps local planning and zoning processes by applying directly to the Maryland Public Service Commission for a license to erect these turbines. At Washington College, we value “unhurried conversations” where all sides of an issue can be explored and discussed before a decision is made. Apex Clean Energy will short-circuit the opportunity for conversations with local residents. The Senate Bill that Senator Steve Hershey has submitted would close this loophole for Apex Clean Energy and require them to also include local permitting/hearings into the approval process.
Second, there is grave concern for what an array of up to 49, 500-foot tall wind turbines might mean for the migratory waterfowl which travel to the Delmarva Peninsula for winter habitat and feeding. The blade span on each of these turbines is about 164-feet in diameter. Imagine what this wall of turbine blades could do to whole flocks of geese flying at or below 500 feet!
Third, Kent County enjoys a scenic beauty that is rapidly disappearing through development across the State of Maryland. Erecting 49 wind turbines in northern Kent County — each of which is as tall as the Legg Mason Tower in Baltimore (the tallest skyscraper in Baltimore City) — would despoil this scenic landscape. These turbines outside of Kennedyville and Galena would be easily visible from the Harford Hall parking lot!
Late last week, I sent the enclosed letter to Maryland Senate President Mike Miller, with similar copies to Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Mike Busch and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.
A group of local residents opposed to the process being undertaken by Apex Clean Energy has set up a website with more information.
Things are moving quickly as this year’s legislative session adjourns on Monday, April 9. If the legislation does not pass both houses by that date, it may not be possible to slow this process down to permit more time for discussion of local concerns, study of the potential impact on waterfowl, and the harm this could cause to the scenic beauty of Kent County. Time is of the essence in all of these activities.
With thanks for your consideration,
Jack S. Griswold P’94 H’07
Interim President and Chair Emeritus
Board of Visitors and Governors
Joe Lill says
Maybe there needs to be some thought given to some out of the box thinking for setting up road blocks along the way to discourage Apex from erecting the turbines in the first place.
#1 The posting of a dismantling “Bond” to provide enough funds to remove the turbines if they do not provide the stated amount of electricity and tax revenue, plus environmental site remediation.
#2 What would happen if the turbines kill a bird that’s on the endangered species list? Would Apex be held liable? We…the citizens…could monitor that closely.
#3 Would this be similar to the situation in the lower bay where turbines might interfere with radar for the air approach to BWI….or the new radar blimp at Aberdeen proving ground?
Some thoughts from a different angle could be what could kill this “wind farm”.
joe diamond says
A few things I have noticed = RE your
#1…….Another wind turbine company pulled out of Somerset County because of the proximity to Pax River Naval Air Station. They converted their project to solar…the cabling is similar (not a tech expert) ……that could be the way this one goes.
#2….Unaware of endangered species but Swans come through as do Canadian Geese. They hit planes from time to time. Might be fun to have a lottery to see how many snow geese get swatted. Elsewhere it is mentioned that bats get hit often.
#3 I have seen A-10s fly below flocks of geese. Those are the two engined jets called Warthogs…..they fly from Glenn Martin airport at middle River. + Dover USAFB is about the same distance as Pax River is from Somerset County. You might have something there.
Any room for a windmill in Piney Neck?
Joe Lill says
LOL Joe,
Skinner’s Neck now!
Andrew Kraft says
To think, we might actually be forced to see where our power comes from?! The nerve. I wonder what the impact of degraded water quality is on all the migratory species that use the Chesapeake Bay Region. I hope the college supports stronger stormwater regulations.
Gerry Levin says
Yawn.
joe Diamond says
Yup…………not much happening since the train stopped coming,
Well said (yawned)
Joe
Ken Noble says
Let’s put one up at Washington College and do some science regarding some of these concerns. Maybe even get some research money and student grants from the Federals. I am not convinced either way that this is a real problem or opportunity yet. It has been said that tourism would stop, that artists would not art and that history would stand still. Has anyone, but me every been to Europe? Seems to me that they still have tourism, artistry and history in The Netherlands.
No, better yet, Washington College, you can use OUR land and build one here as a test site….we will share half of the annual generation proceeds with you. I can sit on my front porch and reflect on a “career” as a former anti-nuclear marcher (“split wood, not atoms”), EPA air photo interpreter of mountain top removal in WVA and PA, a geologist with classmate in the industry (“World Geologic Exploration”, Chevron…woman, btw) who has told me that she believes we are “beyond peak oil”….why would be in the Arctic Ocean, Ken? I wonder whether those 7 children who died in Princess Anne may not still be here if we also donated some proceeds to a seasonal community utility fund….
You may have a point about them honkers, don’t get me wrong…..the debate should all be good fodder for creative writers.
Your neighbor, Ken
joe diamond says
You could have something there. IF you could show windmills kill geese….or even scare them away………. you could go build them at airports. I read that in Europe as the climate gets colder and darker, as in England, Holland and Germany, they embrace the wind turbine idea more easily.
Already working on a novel. I am going to call it Another Quixotic Novel. The story centers around a guy named Don. He was living happily ever after when a large windmill sprouted on his lawn. Luckily he knew jousting was the state sport of Maryland……..he summoned jousters to get rid of the windmill. That’s it
How ’bout them honkers!
Ken Noble says
In my experience, a college is a place where undergraduates and their mentors are given an opportunity to make sense of the world. You don’t make sense of the world by “just saying ‘NO'”. My boys both attended/attend colleges that have windmills on the edge of campus. The reason the windmills are there is not because the school sits in a optimal wind production belt. And they are not there because these schools are veritable engineering warehouses. They are there because these schools produce world leaders who will venture forth into the world and our nation to address issues of the day. Measuring the output inputs, outputs and impacts of wind power is one of the things that they may encounter. I guess that you could use that same logic and wonder why Washington College does not have a nuclear power plant, but for me approaching Middlebury, Vermont and Northfield, Minnesota (Carleton College) means seeing the windmill arise on the edge of campus. But, then again every school in county is not a U.S. New and World Report top ten college…..
The flat out slamming of wind power by an interim president living comfortably on Water Street may be indicative of why some other schools do not ascend to such heights.