BAILEYS BROOK - The group fighting Shear Wind's Glen Dhu turbine project says property values could drop in the area if the development goes ahead.
Susan Overmyer, media relations for the Eco Awareness Society, said several recent studies show home values could deteriorate by "20 to 30 per cent" if turbines are built in the proposed area near Baileys Brook.
"These turbines are 40 storeys tall, and they'll create a loud, deep noise," said Overmyer. "Recently, one gentleman in the area was trying to sell his home, and the buyer passed when he found out there would be turbines built in the area. It will affect our quality of life, and mark a significant change to the community."
One study - of people living near the Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project - presented to the Maine Medical Association in March showed that 100 per cent of respondents in the study felt quality of life was affected and 100 per cent considered moving. The study further concluded that 73 per cent said they could not afford to move and 90 per cent said a recent professional appraisal showed loss of home value made it impossible to move away.
The society admits that reaction to their protest of the site is mixed in the community. Still, they insist the turbines won't be an environmental cure-all, and could actually have negative repercussions on the surrounding habitat.
For instance - the EAS is concerned that these turbines will be directly in the flight path of a slowly increasing eagle population, and fears they will diminish the population due to accidents.
"We're very concerned about losing our eagles, and clearing the forest in that area is robbing us of our best carbon capture system - trees," said Overmyer. "On top of that, there's an abundant bear population here, and they'd be moving closer to our homes when they are displaced."
The project could mean temporary jobs for the area, with a total of 75-100 employees needed for construction and clearing of the site. After that, Overmyer only expects less than a dozen employees stationed at the facility, and those would likely be skilled workers brought from out-of-county.
Overmyer said recent information handed out by Shear Wind has also been confusing - it says only one turbine is to be built, rather than the 30 originally proposed.
"I'm not sure if that means they'll get started and build the rest later, because one doesn't make much sense," Overmyer said.
Property values could drop if windmills rise
- Published on May 25th, 2009
- Published on December 30th, 2009
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Adam Richardson
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Comments
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- town
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:11:07
It never ceases to amaze me how many people build in the country to escape high taxation and then spend twice as much to travel to town for services and jobs. people in the rural areas with no connection to agriculture are a drain on the enviroment in so many more ways than wind turbines. they use up valuable agricultural land use petroleum based fertilizers to keep their lawsns green and pollute the enviroment by driving more than they should. residential developement in the rural areas should be limited and enviromental standards for such developement should be tightened.
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- Roger Langille
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:21:57
I would think that a Windmill Farm would be like a mine or any other Natural Resource project. While the home near the mines may not care for dust they generally are taken care of. With payments of some type to easy there conserns !
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- Michael
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:59:04
I can confirm that property values do indeed drop by 20% to 30%, and my study of home (and land) values near a project built in 2003 demonstrate this impact empirically, as well as anecdotally. One sale that was thwarted is no big deal, however, unless it is YOUR equity that evaporated so someone else could make a profit. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not a sustainable or fair policy. Buy out the neighbors, as if the developer wanted to build a shopping mall, and let them re-sell at a loss, if policy makers deem that wind energy is such a positive step toward independent and clean energy.
Michael McCann
McCann Appraisal, LLC
mikesmccann@comcast.net -
- billybutt sucker
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:54:43
If a Bear gets close to your house, shoot it! I bet these people are the first people complaining when their power goes out. Maybe they want a coal fired generator out there. Would that be quite enough for ya? I would be more concerned about an Eagle getting close to house then a Bear. An Eagle loves cats and dogs for appetizers.
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- Looking to buy a house in
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:54:06
Hmm, I wouldn't buy a house near a windmill or a windmill farm. I also would not move my business near one. There are quieter and more environmentally friendly alternatives.
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- Jan
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:50:52
making a statement like above that a buyer passed on purchasing a property just because it was close to a windmill farm should be verified for proof before printing,if in that whole area only 1 lost sale,that is not even worth concern,try coming up with verifiable reasons.
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- Kevin
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:44:59
quit your day dreaming
