New Jersey community balks at plans to build wind turbine

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WAYNE, N.J. — Hamburg Turnpike, a six-mile stretch dotted with strip malls and low-rise office buildings, does not seem like the place for innovation, and many people who live here seem just fine with that.

Robert Burke, who owns the Wayne Auto Spa, thinks otherwise ... Mr. Burke is hoping to put a spinning 12-story wind turbine on Hamburg Turnpike.

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Mr. Burke, who will receive a $50,000 rebate from the State Board of Public Utilities’ clean energy program if the turbine is built, said his plan was in keeping with New Jersey’s environmental initiatives.

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For Kim Scott, owner of the Goddard School, a day care center next door, and for many other residents, there is nothing wrong with wind turbines if they are positioned in an open area.

But Ms. Scott said she was concerned that ice could form on the blades, then be hurled into the air. Then there’s the concept of wind turbine syndrome, in which some researchers say the low-frequency vibrations from the spinning turbine can cause headaches, dizziness and anxiety.

“It’s about the children,” Ms. Scott said, referring to a bundle of Internet printouts with material on the syndrome. “Are you willing to take a chance with children?”

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“Everybody is for the environment,” Assemblyman Rumana said. “The fact is that there are other aspects of this wind turbine that are negative for the environment. It’s the right technology; wrong place.”

At a contentious planning board meeting this month, many of the nearly 100 people present were either wary or angry about the proposal.

A handful of questions bubbled up from the crowd. Are there studies on whether the spinning blades will distract passing drivers? What if the turbine falls into the road? Could the blades kill birds? How loud will it be?

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Mr. Burke, calling Hamburg Turnpike “a spaghetti mess” of utilities, said: “If aesthetics can keep a wind turbine from this location, then you can’t build one anywhere in the country. We’re not putting these things off the coast of Cape Cod like the Cape Wind project, or sticking them out in Yosemite. It’s a car wash.”

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Mr. Burke says he is intent on getting his proposal approved, even if he needs to take the issue to court.

“Whenever this process ends,” he said, “there’s going to be a wind turbine at the car wash.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/nyregion/22turbine.html

[mawilson 2,133]

“It’s about the children,” Ms. Scott said, referring to a bundle of Internet printouts with material on the syndrome. “Are you willing to take a chance with children?”

Hell yeah.

[Peikko 1,575]

I thought electric pylons had huge health implications and yet no one cares much if schools are planted near them.

Or of course, vice versa.

[GaryC 7]

The environmentalists are all for alternate ways of generating energy, as long as it does not effect them.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The environmentalists are all for alternate ways of generating energy, as long as it does not effect them.

Well, in all fairness, there's no indication in this article that the opposition is coming from environmental activists at all. It's coming from regular people.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

So far no children have died near the wind turbines in the coachella valley here in CA

I personally find them aesthetically pleasing

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"Wind Turbine Syndrome" I have never heard of that

[GaryC 7]

The environmentalists are all for alternate ways of generating energy, as long as it does not effect them.

Well, in all fairness, there's no indication in this article that the opposition is coming from environmental activists at all. It's coming from regular people.

I was thinking of Teddy Kennedy and his opposition to offshore wind turbines because it would ruin his view.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I've been to Wayne, NJ - I don't recall a view that would be ruined

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I've been to Wayne, NJ - I don't recall a view that would be ruined

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Give it a couple of months - there'll be underwear and old tennis shoes hanging off the blades.