As reported all over the country it appears, even appearing in the Washington Post, the NH House GOP continues with their in-fights. Of course what the post politely chooses to leave out is the history of the Bill O’Brien led house, the bullying, over the top favoritism and extremist libertarian and Tea Party style ideology driven session under his direction.
Billy O; self titled, “Leader of the Caucas” is also “Keeper of the Bitter Pill” that he refuses to swallow.
His loyal followers have attempted to derail state house proceedings after their man wasn’t elected as speaker and instead of acting like adults they’ve continued on like ill tempered teens, threatening to well, do something, such as open an office across the street from the state house for their little club. Of course proving himself a leader as always, sources say, O’Brien has now adopted the title “Republican Caucus Leader”. Someone send him a tiara please.
The Change that Changed the Change: Unfortunately the mean girls managed to band together long enough to make a rules change to change the rule about guns back to the rule it was when Bully ‘O was in power, or back to what it was prior to the seventies, however you want to look at it. In 2012, the rule was changed back to the older ban on guns in chambers. Now the boys have voted to change the change once again allowing firearms into the house chambers. As quoted in the Boston Globe, “We’re not talking about the Wild West,” said state Representative Fred Rice, a Republican from Hampton. “We’re not talking about irresponsible people running around waving guns in the air. . . . We’re asking for the right to do what we do in our daily lives.” Sure everyone talks about politically and socially contentious issues while armed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8K0yLAtzCY
We’d have to dispute that also considering some of the state reps and their state of mind, being as how many are convinced that the community sustainability plans of Agenda 21 (because it sounds like a sci-fi movie?) and renewable energy goals must be a nefarious plot laid down by solar-powered communists from Mars. Yes folks, the John Birch Society is alive and well and has, like a vampire in the night, taken hold of state reps in New Hampshire.
The bill was sponsored by Goffstown state rep. John Burt, an extreme lover of guns himself who also said, “Where I have an issue is if a nut with a gun comes into this chamber, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, whether it is a state trooper or a fellow representative.” At least, one that can hold onto his guns long enough to aim in the right direction. Anyway, when Rep. Burt speaks of nuts, he might want to look in his own mixed bag first.
More seriously, as always Burt’s representation of the existence of a current and present danger at every moment in every place speaks of a very strange if not, illusory world. But any justification will do when it comes to the so-called right to run around with a weapon. A weapon mind you that leaves no time for justice; but murders without warning and without due process. This is the world and the justice Burt and his band of buddies envision for us all.
Wed like to propose that the house Democrats put forward a bill to require seating separated by party and a bullet-proof glass between the aisle. Then, no worries, shoot away! For more info on politicians and guns click the Mother Jones article, “Loaded Chambers: A Brief History of Politicians Accidentally Shooting Things“
Someone going by the moniker “Charlie McFreman ” (we see what you did there, apparently ‘freeman’ has run its course hasn’t it?) sent us this Facebook message they received in what they are assuming is in regard to the blog posts about Free Staters:
You are nothing but a bigoted piece of s***t. F*** you and your irrational hatred. I saw what you said about someone I know to be an amazing and wonderful person based solely on a label. Do you hate niggers too? F*****g biggot. How do you look at yourself in the mirror?
Charlie McFreman
This represents the ‘movement’ their adherents want people to think is full of love and light. Also, as was stated repeatedly on the person’s Facebook page (which we assume generated this because the post was placed there), the writer did not attack Elizabeth Edwards’ personally BUT made the point that one’s integrity in their actions speaks volumes about their inner character. Also, these people strongly advocate carrying guns, open carrying and concealed carry everywhere and spew this kind of hatred. But they want us to belief they are harmless.
Edwards might want to make sure that those representing her as a kind and wonderful individual at least make an attempt to present themselves that way as well. Otherwise it kind of cancels out the message entirely. But then again, they may carry on, why stop them? Be as you will, everyone can see it.
Also, B-I-G-O-T. Since its obvious the writer is one, he might as well learn to spell it correctly.
New Hampshire Tax Payer’s Coalition, NH Tea Party and political gadfly and general annoyance Richard Girard created a flurry of excitement at hopefully finding an example of the voter fraud Republicans are certain is destroying democracy and getting Democrats into power. Unfortunately for them and their impending fame and fortune, what actually occurred was a recording error among voter history. Breathlessly anticipating we’re sure, an inquiry and criminal proceedings that would bring down the liberal cabal holding Americans against complete corporate utopia and cause a surge in their popularity among the wing-nut brigade , Richard Girard (nitpicking bore with a radio show and podcast that uses the bandwidth of a hair dryer and about as much hot air), the Tea Baggers and the The League of the Shamelessly Greedy NH TPC have found their momentum upward halted quite quickly. Fortunately for all of them (although not for us) the tumble to the ground was a short one.
As Granite State Progress notes, the group harassed a regular guy just doing his civic duty to engage in the voting process, “For the last month, Naile, CNHT, and the NH Tea Party have relentlessly alleged fraud by a former New Hampshire voter, using social media graphics and posts on Granite Grok and Girard at Large to defame an American citizen who did his civic duty to vote in every election.”
Illegal voting allegations out of Wilton
Thursday, November 6, 2014
By JESSIE SALISBURY
Correspondent
WILTON – According to an organization called Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers, and as shown on their website http://www.cnht.com, resident Jared Cram voted twice in presidential elections in 2008 and 2012, both in Wilton and near Philadelphia.
Traveling the wards on election day in Manchester gleaned some interesting snapshots, such as the one with Elizabeth Edwards at Ward 4; she was a great sport with the picture taking. But aside from the usual stock of candidate’s sign holders, Ward 6, at St. Pius Catholic Church on Candia Road, had an especially peculiar election day sign holder.
Right at the entrance to the walkway was poised a woman holding a gigantic, nearly 4′ x 5′ sign in front of her. The picture was so huge that it was visible all the way down the driveway across the large parking lot. A gigantic graphic photo of what appeared a D and C procedure blasted the viewing space of everyone heading into the polls.
Such images represent a sort of violent assault to one’s senses. If you notice in the picture, the woman is given wide berth by people doing their visibility obligations. Such a graphic image is deeply unsettling. Aside from the fact that a D&C is not a standard elective abortion procedure but used only in medical emergencies, thus such pictures are deceptive, should zealots be allowed to assault voters with such images? What if anti-war protesters decided to jump on the wagon too and carry graphic signage of children blasted apart by bombs? While all progressives and even libertarians hold strong anti-war positions, do they do this on a regular basis and if not why? Imagine such a scene if you will; the polling places would begin to look like a war zone and would possibly repel voters from even making the walk to the polling place entrance.
One of the two Democrats who stood holding signs said, “Yeah and whether you’re pro-life or not is such a sign necessary to prove your point; we’re all against child pornography but we don’t carry around images of the act to prove our point.” Exactly. The young man said that some of the people even on the Republican side occasionally walked over and tried to stand in front of the woman to at least hide her image from small children. But the woman would have none of it and would change position accordingly.
As it is, one has to wonder how parents with small children dealt with this imagery. Its a solid tradition in our country for parents to bring their children with them to the polling place, should voting be associated with graphic images of death, much less dead babies, which can be doubly upsetting to children? Is this the imprint of the voting experience that we want on children’s minds?
We called the Secretary of State’s office and spoke to the Deputy Secretary of State yesterday, she said that the moderator of the polling place has a lot of leeway in deciding what is disruptive in signage or other activities. We note that of all the polling places we visited in Manchester (barring Wards 11 and 12 which we weren’t able to get to), this was the only location that hosted this type of signage.
So the question must be asked, does this poster represent a disruption to voters that day? At what point does “free speech” intersect with the public’s interests for not being visually assaulted? Wouldn’t a poster or sign asking voters to vote pro-life been sufficient to satisfy free speech and get the message to voters?
James has surfaced and is apparently still able to exercise his right to function as a reporter as he posted something on Seacoast online. Also he’s still calling himself a WMUR reporter so we’ll assume he just needed a minor readjustment break after handing Brown his ticket to nowhere.
The political reporter for WMUR the only major New Hampshire commercial television station beautifully laid the bombshell that showed Scott Brown for the clueless carpet-bagger that he was. See video:
James Pindell asked a very rational and obvious question, one that required some knowledge of simple geography of the state and that opened an opportunity to demonstrate some knowledge of the area. Really a typically banal question a debate panelist will throw at a candidate, especially in a local or statewide election. The question related to asking Brown what he thought about the particular challenges of Sullivan County and what he’d do about them. Again, typically an eye closer save for those who live in Sullivan County or close to it.
But the fact is, Scott Brown doesn’t live in New Hampshire and never did. So even though he’s asking people to put faith in him and have him make crucial decisions about their lives and their state, but he can’t even get the geography right. He wouldn’t be able to drive from here to there because he doesn’t know where there is. So he did what all of us would have done if we hadn’t done our homework; he fudged. He answered with general and obviously coached references to Obamacare, electric rates and the ski industry. To anyone with half a brain his half attempt question resembled the half-attempt to lie to the people of New Hampshire. The first consisted of pandering to the GOP line against any form of national healthcare, electric rates were reference to the efforts to get Northern Pass (a large electrical line to feed southern New England from Quebec) and the ski industry was just feel good reference to local business, strong on winter tourism — all in the north country. Not in Sullivan County, save for one small ski resort.
Brown fumbled. He fumbled hard and rolled like a flat rock. Pindell made the reference that possibly he didn’t understand where Sullivan County was and seemed to be referencing the north country when in fact Sullivan County is west. The debate went on but the curtain had been pulled back. The man that failed a run against Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts because he just couldn’t keep up with her intellectual skill had just screwed his second chance to take the crown; 2 for 0, confirmed loser.
What happens next though is what’s astounding; Pindell takes it all on his shoulders. The fumble was his fault and he took it all by going on Twitter shortly after the debate to say Scott Brown was probably referring to Sunapee, yeah that’s the ticket. But he didn’t do that just once, he did it twice, then he went on the air the next day and took the blame again, deflecting the damage as best he could, attempting to throw water on Brown’s burning derriere . Huffington post has more details with Pindell’s apologetic Twitter posts.
Since that debate it has been noted that Mr. Pindell, the sole political reporter for WMUR has been strangely absent. His last Twitter post is November 3rd, his last Facebook post is November 3rd. Of course most telling and curious was his absence during the election results. Wouldn’t a political reporter be the one giving the tallies and the analysis?
Since WMUR has a strong reputation as a slave to the Republican side we’re hoping that he’s possibly decided to hunt for employment elsewhere, that maybe he’s had it with the pressure to compromise his journalistic integrity. The fact is, for whatever its worth, he has a master’s from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and a good resume of solid experience, you’d think that would empower him with the ability to at least know real news and his obligation to it.
Here’s our message to you Pindell: You did a good job. Some of us up here in New Hampshire have noticed that you slide over to the other side quite a lot and we’ve wondered if you’re just another tool. But we have to hand it to you, you did your job and exposed Brown for the fraud he was and possibly saved New Hampshire from a Koch Brothers take over. Maybe you are in the mountains right now on a vision quest to find truth in yourself and your purpose. Brighter horizons await the truth-tellers. We don’t know where you’ll find that among the big networks, but hey, what’s worth more, truth or lots of money?
While New Hampshire citizens managed to shoo carpet-bagger Scott Brown out of the state and return Democrat Jeanne Shaheen to the Senate and Annie Kuster back to the House on the national level, Democrats have had some losses, mostly in the state house as extremist libertarians along with some extremist Tea Partiers gained control. Some of the traditionally more reasonable Republicans did ride on the GOP slide such as Gene Chandler who Bill O’Brien replaced as house speaker in the 2010 Tea Party sweep.
But we’re not here to focus on moderates, we’d rather keep you updated on the people to watch closely this upcoming session, in particular those with extremist, anarcho-capitalists views and ambitions. We’re speaking of course of the self described Free Staters (read more indepth about them here) that have professed to come and destroy state government, break New Hampshire from the union and create their own libertarian paradise, whether the rest of the New Hampshire citizens want it or not.
Its important to note that New Hampshire has the largest legislative body in the country with 424 members. State house members, of which there are 400 must fight for their seat every two years, the state senators makeup the remaining 24. The term pay is a total $100 dollars a year, plus transportation expense. As a result the party leadership on either side prefers to spend their time and energy on the more lucrative senate seats leaving most state reps to fend for themselves. This creates a window of opportunity for all kinds of regular folks to run as long as they’ve got the time and money to spend running a campaign and running back and forth to the state house during session time. Those last qualifications tend to weed out the herd so to speak, leaving most often only the self employed, those who have a source of sustenance beyond trading their time and hard labor for cash and the retired. There’s an old saying about who runs in New Hampshire, “The three r’s: the rich, the retired and the —” since the last is not so polite we’ll leave that for you to figure out.
Therefore, it was only a matter of time that the adherents to the mission of “Free Stater” takeover would figure out that possibly dismantling from inside might be pretty easy. At least the first part; getting elected. Traditionally, because the districts which break down into wards in larger areas are so numerous, most regular people just don’t pay a whole lot of attention to who is on the ticket. With two or three or even as many as seven seats available for their region, voters will often vote the party ticket they like and be done with it. This has resulted traditionally in all sorts of odd characters getting elected often to the later humiliation of the party they are supposed to represent.
But in the case of the Free Staters; they aren’t people on a personal political mission or tangent or people running to protect a pet area of government regulation or grind a particular ax; the Free Staters are on a greater mission and are organized and committed. As a result we’ve seen a gradual trickle of Free Stater followers and believers run in campaigns, usually as Republicans. Democratic wards, particularly those in the larger cities such as Manchester and Nashua, tend to have a diverse population of people who traditionally vote Democratic, whether because of old union sympathies or ethnic differences. They will tend to vote the ticket even if they haven’t had the chance to pay attention as much. Why not? Makes sense, if you are pro-labor you know Republicans aren’t. If you want a candidate who will vote for programs that help poor or elderly people, you’d vote Democratic, Republicans don’t profess to care about poor people or the elderly.
So Free Staters have figured out the shotgun approach is best. If all you want to do is get in, no matter how then why not run as a Democrat, especially in wards that typically vote Democratic but may be more socially disenfranchised and may not personally know or even have heard of their house rep or senator. So running as a Democrat has been the Free Stater practice now for at least the last two sessions. As shown here, its a strategy that they refuse to give up on even though this second try shows only one success with that strategy.
So without further ado, here’s the list, with the party they ran under also noted and the history (thanks to Granite State Progress for their work on this) of those who have served in the house before linked to their names. We considered putting pictures to the names, but we’re not here to promote these people or their version of libertarianism.
Glen Aldrich (R) – Belknap District 2 Mike Sylvia (R) – Belknap District 6
Ed Comeau (R) – Carroll District 5
Robert Hull (R) – Grafton District 9
Keith Murphy (R) – Hillsborough District 7
Elizabeth Edwards (D) – Hillsborough District 11
Amanda Boutin (D) – Hillsborough District 11
Keith Ammon (R) – Hillsborough District 40 Brian Seaworth (R) – Merrimack District 20 Dan McGuire (R) – Merrimack District 21 Carol McGuire (R) – Merrimack District 29
Jason Osborne (R) – Rockingham District 4
Shem Kellogg (R) – Rockingham District 14 Adam Schroadter (R) – Rockingham District 17
Max Abramson (R) – Rockingham District 20 Laura Jones (R) – Stafford District 24
Elizabeth Edwards with her wife Caitlin Appell.
Like many young libertarians, Edwards has said to some she found a home within the FSP for her sexual orientation freedom. Really? The Democrats have no history of working for and defending LGBT rights? More than likely its that extremist libertarianism might be more appealing to someone who spent some time as an intern at the Koch Brothers’ founded Cato Institute. A part of the obstructive factor of the efforts at forming an Occupy in New Hampshire, Edwards once seemed near an emotional breakdown during an informational presentation about the Koch Brothers corporate web of power, protesting that it was “one-sided” and unfair. What’s interesting to note, besides the one Free Stater, Elizabeth Edwards, the rest that won ran were Republicans, so hopefully people did actually pay attention to some extent.
We did find Elizabeth Edwards at the polling place doing her obligatory visibility; only trouble was, she was standing with the Republicans rather than with the Democrats. When asked why she hesitated and then replied, “Well we can be everywhere.” which is true, the candidates and their supporters can stand anywhere. But Elizabeth obviously felt more comfortable standing with the Republicans and Tea Party extremists and two of the Free Staters (that lost their bid, Eileen Landies and Tim O’Flaherty). Too bad for Eileen and Tim since they did have a chance to show their colors last session. Guess that was enough for the voters in Manchester.
O’Flaherty immigrated to New Hampshire as a converted Free Stater with the sole intention of running as a Democrat to get into the heart of the political process and begin the mandatory deconstruction. He was quoted during his time in office as saying he “hated serving” because he hated government. He hated it so much he decided to ask for another term. It was also observed that although he ran as a Democrat he regularly caucused with Republicans. For a group of anarchists its really quite something that they consider it worth stretching their anarchist tent enough to allow some establishment Republicans in who seem to have no problem finding ways to increase government. Apparently government isn’t such a problem after all when its used to disenfranchise voters, keep women from exercising their rights to reproductive healthcare and to allow corporations a free ride on the public’s dollar.
Unfortunately the Republicans they caucused with last term didn’t seem to be in on their plan to dismantle government and despite their best efforts, last we knew, its still in place ready for a new term of serious civic government peppered with shenanigans of the likes of these folks. We’ll be watching and reporting. Stay tuned.
Protesters from Occupy in New York City forcibly removed from a bridge sit-in.
Vote.
Its the easiest muscle in your democratic body to exercise. It takes the least work, its required only once every few years and most of the time you have to intentionally not listen to not know the issues at stake.
The above picture shows people engaged in the brief, short lived Occupy movement across the country. One person once corrected me saying, “It was never a movement!” I disagree, it was. But it was short for multiple reasons but the action of democracy flows under the shiny trappings of capitalist consumption and greed. It flows under the frozen crust of alienation and dissatisfaction. It flows because the water of justice cannot be stopped, it flows because the movement of a people yearning for decency in their lives, security, safety and peace will not stop. Going to the polling place is the easiest. Exercise that muscle, because sooner or later we’ll all be called on to either run or fight. Better be fit and ready now.
Now, onto Susan Bruce’s excellent analysis of what’s at stake in New Hampshire:
It’s almost over. A few more political ads ought to help us choose what candidates to vote for. Is there really anyone left who is undecided? Nationwide, over $4 billion is being spent on the midterm elections. Good thing we don’t have anything important we could be spending $4 billion on. The corporate taps are open wide and the dark money is flowing.
Thanks to all that money, we know that Scott Brown knows only one number. 99. We know that he’s attempting to whip white NH into a frenzy about immigration and Ebola. The fear is supposed to divert you from paying attention to why he’s here. He’s here because he lost his Senate seat in Massachusetts, and he’d like to use NH as a springboard to higher office. I’ve been to debates and forums where Brown spoke, and his ground support is thin. What can anyone say about him? He’s never done anything in NH except vacation and run for office. Brown grew up in Massachusetts, went to school there, was married and had a family there, had a career there, got into politics there. If Elizabeth Warren hadn’t beaten him, he’d still be there. The first time Scott Brown casts a vote here it will be for himself.
This is a man who has repeatedly refused to speak with members of the press, going so far as to hide in a bathroom to avoid a reporter. As you ponder his name on your ballot ask yourself this: Should New Hampshire’s US Senate seat be a consolation prize for a guy whose ambition is the only reason he’s here?
In tonight’s last debate with Jeanne Shaheen, hopeful carpetbagger and perpetual hope of the plutocrats, Scott Brown demonstrated how it takes at least a modicum of brains to be a pretender. As seen in the video below that is flying everywhere right now, Scott Brown mistook Sullivan County for the North Country and proceeded to use his trained seal talking points to not answer the question but instead provide the listener with a lot of irrelevant campaign trail jibberish.
Like a robot that jumped a gear or two Brown also made a strange gesture with his right hand while attempting to talk himself out of the corner he put himself in. As he tries to clarify that he meant ‘north of concord’ he puts his hand up to his head with his pinkie out and his thumb up. What’s he doing, gesturing that he needs to call a friend? Is he signaling that his secret in-ear wireless isn’t working? Either way, the man had no idea where Sullivan County was much less any unique issues or problems about Sullivan county. It was a great question and exposed him as the hired plant that he is.
It became very clear, even with the moderator’s pathetic effort to help pull him out of the swamp he fell into, that Brown knows absolutely nothing about New Hampshire and is, as he was when he attempted to challenge Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, nothing but a tool and really not very bright.
You’d think with all the money they have to spend that the plutocrats could find better servants to carry on their mission of destroying democracy, locally and nationally. But then again, possibly that’s just the Gordian knot they are stuck in, because if you have contempt for the people you aren’t going to be able to understand them enough to find a suitable foil for them. Most importantly as well, if you have contempt for democracy and see the people and their fickle ways as just an encumbrance to your efforts at making the world your personal playground, then possibly you just might not really take the electoral process very seriously anyway.
But see for yourself, the video is viral on facebook, click on the link provided below:
Apparently WMUR’s Pindell has been getting weary of the claims from the Brown camp that when Brown said “ski areas” in his scripted reply about Sullivan County he really meant Sunappee, even though he never mentioned any particular ski resort by name. Good save Brown and Co. and good to at least train your seal to never be too specific as that might just paint him in a corner.
Residents of New Hampshire have yet another chance to save the mountaintops of the western highlands region of the state from destruction. On Wednesday the full New Hampshire house will hold hearings and then vote on SB-99 in its amended form and a new amendment to HB-2.
SB-99, once the moratorium bill has emerged from the Senate Energy Committee transformed into an entirely different bill. In an apparent compromise, Senator Bradley’s proposal to exclude transmission lines in the moratorium did not survive. Although transmission lines (pertaining of course to the Northern Pass project) did get back into the moratorium bill, this only occurred with the exclusion of the moratorium demand entirely. In its place the Senate inserted language to create a committee be formed from members of the house and the senate.
Representative Neal Kurk, of Weare has proposed an amendment to HB-2 which will put in place a moratorium and will read: (this is the proposed draft):
““Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, there are here by established moratoriums on the constructions of wind turbine plants and electric transmission line projects in the state of New Hampshire until July 1, 2014. The site evaluation committee, established in RSA 162-H:3, shall issue no certificates for wind turbine plants or electric transmission line projects under RSA 162-H while such moratoriums are in effect.”
Everyone needs to call or email their representative TODAY or TONIGHT to let them know that wind turbines will have a serious, irreversible effect on our environment, our natural landscape and resultingly our economy statewide. This is not a regional issue but a serious statewide issue. A moratorium will temporarily halt approval of turbine development until further study and due process on research can commence without pressure or undo influence from the wind industry. Click on the link below for an easy to use search tool to find your representative and their contact information. The representatives have heard the opinion and propaganda of the paid lobbyists for the wind industry, have they heard from you?
This committee already has come together and recommended right out the gate that the Site Evaluation Committee adopt the Proposed Wind Siting Guidelines (.pdf) that a consortium of industry and state agency persons created in 2007. Of course, demonstrating its hesitance to take an objective stand on wind energy, the SEC decided immediately to not adopt the siting guidelines. This despite a March 3, 2013 petition directly from the house Science, Energy and Technology Committee, requesting that the SEC adopt the 2007 proposed guidelines.
Currently there exists no guidelines for siting wind turbines, no consideration for environmental impacts and a very poor, non-democratic methodology for public input and even announcement and planning of public hearings. As per testimony from March 29, 2013 of Lisa Linowes, intervener on many turbine hearings:
“No definitions are provided in either the Statute or the Committee’s rules which explain specific studies to be conducted by the Applicant in order to demonstrate, for example, the impact of the proposed facility on the environment. And no requirements address standards for conducting appropriate post-construction surveys. Since siting of wind power facilities presents challenges that are different from those faced by other types of energy facilities, there are well established protocols for conducting studies that aim to predict and address the impacts. Siting guidelines would help the SEC, State Agencies, and Applicants in deciding what studies should be conducted and the protocols to be followed PRIOR to an application being submitted. In some cases the SEC has required that additional studies be conducted after a project is permitted. This process is inherently unfair to the public and unduly discriminates against the public’s involvement.”
Currently the SEC has complete control over who testifies and acts as an “intervener” on behalf of the public by function of their intervener approval process. In addition, public hearing notices receive publication in the rarely read legal notices section of newspapers in the hosting area region. In Berlin for example, it appears through reading the notes of the one hearing, that the presence of the Berlin city planner was considered sufficient public presence. Thus the committee was able to rationalize the public’s approval and move forward with industry testimony and nothing from concerned citizens.
The most unfortunate development so far has been the refusal of Democrats, usually the defenders of environmental justice, to consider the ill effects of the wind turbines. Representing predominantly urban areas not directly affected by the wind turbines, these representatives and senators have the temerity to call those against wind energy as NIMBY’s. Interestingly, not one of these individuals who represent Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Dover and surrounding areas will have to suffer from the ill effects of wind turbines. In fact, it might be safe to make the conjecture that as long as the turbines remain on the mountains, then at least the seacoast won’t have to worry about the potential of wind turbines placed on their treasured seacoast.
The same holds true for those in the White Mountain region who will suffer from the effects of the 400′ towers proposed as part of the Northern Pass project. Northern Pass, a project that Hydro-Quebec and PSNH will make millions on, will as proposed, carry electric power generated by hydro dams in southern Quebec. Already the Innuit people have seen portions of the native lands flooded by the country of Quebec with no consideration of their needs. In addition, it has been estimated that a lake the size of New Hampshire itself would be required to fulfill the demand from southern New England that these power lines will deliver.
These New Hampshire legislators have not only a duty to the residents in their districts, but also a duty of concern for the health of the entire state. The wind industry, acting much like most all large industries, wishes to keep their projects as locally confined as possible, thus keeping the outrage over their risks and hazards confined as well. The democratic process of review cannot function when the people in the entire state do not have the information needed to make proper critical analysis. Legislators represent; they do not dictate, nor do bureaucrats or others of select group.
Both Northern Pass and the development of wind turbine “farms” (a misnomer as nothing is farmed) substantially threaten New Hampshire in many ways. Its indeed ironic that traditional progressives have such a hard time swallowing the cruel fact that green technology is neither simple, nor easily applied to existing paradigms of energy production carved out over a century ago. We must take the time to properly analyze, evaluate and understand our need for clean energy, our consumption habits, our production capabilities and most importantly, the long range effect all will have on our communities and environments.
Offered in support of Senate Bill 99 (in its original form) on Wednesday, March 20th, in front of the Senate Energy Committee, were testimonies of various persons who will be affected most specifically by the proposed wind turbines and the Northern Pass power line project.
While Northern Pass has received a lot of press and a lot of support from the general public due to the length of time its been before the public and the amount of organizing against, the issue of wind turbines proposed for the western highlands of the state has not received much attention.
The full senate will be voting on SB 99 tomorrow (Thursday, March 28th), please call your senator and let them know we need to halt the industrial onslaught now!
We decided to place here for your perusal, some of the testimony from that day from people. Those who will be directly affected or who have expert knowledge of how the trails and mountains will be affected by the proposed wind turbines testified that day. The folks at NH Wind Watch were kind enough to send us these transcripts and also some video that was shot of the hearing, which show most of the testimony, starting with Jeannie Forrester, the bill’s sponsor.
Also in the video are small business owners who say that like the Northern Pass effect, their business has essentially stopped, in particular those engaged in the building trades. Potential buyers lose interest once they hear of the possible wind development and current owners begin to contemplate selling before the market falls rather than expanding. Not also the one woman who comes in against the moratorium bill from Franklin, a representative of a local bank that has not stopped frothing at the mouth since Northern Pass promised huge chunks of cash to the town of Franklin.
We also included some written testimonials below the video.
from Nancy Watson
My name is Nancy Watson. I live in Groton. I don’t have a lot of statistics for you today. I think this is more about collateral damage.
As the septic was finishing up for our home, we found out about the Spruce Ridge wind farm, which will be located on the mountain top about a mile and a half in front of us, with 24 proposed 50 story industrial wind turbines. Groton Wind is about a mile and a half behind us, with another 24 similar turbines.
A few weeks ago, we learned the land on the mountaintop across from us, to the front right, went under lease for the Alpine Ridge Wind Farm. That’s also about a mile and a half away. We don’t know how many turbines will be on that ridge, because the company won’t return our phone calls. Many in Groton are worried. Our town has desirable large tracks of land. How many more wind farms are we going to squeeze into town??? How will the SEC keep up with so many applications?
I think I can safely make the assumption I will be surrounded by a triangle of approximately 75 – 50 story industrial wind turbines. I don’t think there are even that many buildings in Boston that tall! And we’re not the only ones. We have neighbors too. This will be the case for most residents of Groton.
I used to worry about what all this would look. I’m beyond that now. I worry about the harmonics when the turbines are all spinning and churning at once and the possible health effects of the low frequency waves produced by the pressure reduction. It makes some people sick. How can any wind company possibly measure the implications of so many turbines, from so many angles, from so many varying heights?
Last month, I received an assessment of my property from a local realtor/broker (with almost 30 years of experience in my area). With just the prospects of one met tower, which will undoubtedly lead to a wind project, our property will be reduced to timberland value, a 25 to 50% reduction. And so will our neighbors’ property!
We were going to build a home. Now we’re on hold. So are at least two of our neighbors. No dirt work, no carpenters, no plumbers, no electricians. No money passed to the tradesmen. No money for their families to spend at the local stores. And the cycle continues.
I’ve been sitting in on hearings and work sessions and some legislators are worried about the message a moratorium will send to business. How about us – the citizens of NH? What message are you sending us? Many of us have put our future on hold, because we don’t know what’s going to happen to our economy and to our real estate value? Why build a house, when it will be worth 50 % less before even moving in?
So in our case, my husband and I are living in our garage. Are we collateral damage?
We ask YOU to please support the moratorium until proper siting guidelines for wind facilities can be enacted to protect the residents and small businesses of NH. Thank You!
From Craig Sanborn
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee:
My name is Craig Sanborn. I live in Enfield. I am here in my capacity as the Appalachian Mountain Club Trailmaster for Cardigan, although I emphasize that what follows is my personal observations and estimates, neither authorized nor forbidden by the Club.
The map I gave you has the hiking trails highlighted in green, the existing wind turbines on Tenney Mtn. in red, and proposed or suitable turbine sites highlighted in yellow. Wild Meadow in Danbury, Spruce Ridge in Groton and Alexandria, and Jewell Hill in Groton are all in the early stages of research for applying to the SEC for operating permits, thus have very little money invested so far. The other yellow sites are at elevations or on prominent ridges where in theory there may be wind enough often enough to run the turbines. My source is a map in the “documents” section of the nhwindwatch.com website.
There is another reason why sb99 ought to pass besides the economics of subsidized wind turbines, flat demand for electricity, health risks, and the inadequacy of the SEC to fully evaluate applications or police existing permits without the proposed 2007 guidelines. That reason is the loss of tourist revenue to the state plus the livelihoods of workers and small businesses in the tourist trade. Others have described their losses from tourists and second-home buyers refusing to invest their time and money where they would have to see Northern Pass towers or giant wind turbines. The tourists are already voting with their money, and they vote “NAY” when they can.
The map I submit to you shows that several hiking trails now in use would be closed if the turbines capture the ridgelines. Here are the best estimates of hiker tourists I have been able to come up with:
– 8000 bed-nights a year at the AMC Cardigan Lodge, per its manager
– 15,000 day hikers ” ,60-car lot.
– 12,000 ” at the Mt Cardigan State Park on the other side of the mountain, where the lot holds 40 cars but I observe it is usually full by 10 AM on a sunny weekend day.
All those 35,000 people pay the gas tax and rooms and meals tax etc.
I have asked people on the summit what they think of the Tenney Mtn windfarm they can see. 3/4 or more say they don’t like it. I then point out the ridges where other turbines are proposed, and they tell me they don’t like them either. Therefore I anticipate that dozens of turbines within two miles (Spruce Ridge) and several dozen more within 5 miles will chill hikers’ willingness to hike this mountain.
The tourists pay to see natural-looking wild landscapes hereabouts. Our economy depends on their willingness to spend money here. The proposed wind farms bring profits for their owners and losses for thousands of local residents. We need time to establish a balanced approach to finding a proper place for new energy sources.
Please pass sb99. Thank you.
From Craig Williams
RP Williams & Sons Inc. is a family owned lumber and building supply business in Bristol, NH. We have been supplying quality building materials to homeowners and contractors in the Newfound Region for over 60 years. RP Williams has been directly and indirectly responsible for many hundreds of jobs in the Newfound area. Newfound Lake and the surrounding towns have always been a strong economic draw for our business. After the past few years of national economic decline, we have been on the verge of a rebound in building and new construction. However, the threat of Wind Turbines on the ridges around Newfound Lake have had a detrimental effect on people considering building in this area. We have experienced actual cancellations in building plans directly related to Wind Turbine construction. This includes Groton Wind, (already operating), and builders and clients reacting to the possibility of further wind turbine projects recently proposed around Newfound Lake.
Construction of additional wind turbines will most certainly affect property values in this pristine region.
In closing, we feel the turbines will have further negative impact on our business as well as many others in the local area.
We ask your committee to support SB-99 granting a moratorium to allow a year for the state to undertake a comprehensive study of the SEC and their siting responsibilities. It is time to seriously examine and take into consideration the economic impact wind turbine projects are already having on our local businesses and economy.
Craig Williams
Vice-President, RP Williams & Sons, Inc.
From Steve Bleiler
Good morning,,,,my name is Steve Bleiler. I am a 38 year resident of Alexandria. When my wife and I graduated from college we could have settled down anywhere, but chose the Newfound area believing it to be one of the most beautiful places we had ever seen.
We bought our Cardigan Mountain Orchard farm which needed extensive work in 1975. While having a 33 year teaching career, my wife and I restored the house, built 8000 ft of farm buildings, and cleared 25 acres of field.
We have been growing our current apple business to now have 1000 apple trees. Our three adult sons hope to take over this farm which is why we recently bought and restored an old country store in Bristol and we were planning on doubling the number of trees as well. Recently, our farm was awarded the New Hampshire Farm of Distinction.
The future growth of our hilltop business has been put on hold pending the outcome of industrial wind development in the Newfound, Mt. Cardigan region. That is why I am here speaking to you today. I am asking you to pass this moratorium on new wind farm projects. My three sons and their families are in a state of limbo knowing the expansion of our farm and country store, which up to this point has been steadily growing year by year, will be curtailed and start to decline. You might be thinking that is just our overreaction, however you need to know that 75% of my customers are tourists visiting Newfound lake and hiking the 50 miles of trails of Cardigan State Park and the AMC lodge which is one of the most popular fall hikes in NH. I found out about the first proposed wind power project in September of 2012 and at that time began to ask my customers how they felt about turbines 454‘ tall surrounding Mt. Cardigan and the lake. They said this would be terrible and asked why would they put them on the mountain tops of this pristine wilderness area??? One of these proposed projects will close down many of the state park trails. I believe this will be a death blow to the AMC and Cardigan State Park and the many tourist related businesses of the Newfound Lake region. It bothers me when they call industrial wind “wind farms” for no farmer I know would ever treat their land as these corporations do blasting and leveling the mountain tops.
Our vision is to provide as a small agricultural business quality local foods to our neighbors and visiting tourists. Like most farmers, it is not about getting rich, but rather taking pride in what we grow and see the customers enjoy and appreciate the “fruits of our labor”. I know that each of you here desire small businesses such as ours to thrive. I am concerned however that we are facing billion dollar companies pushing industrial wind who are all about making a profit dressed up in “green energy” packaging. The long range consequences economically to our area needs to be evaluated. May I ask you?? Where is the next industrial wind project going to assault another sensitive tourist economy based area? Mt. Monadnock, Mt. Sunapee, the Franconia Notch ridges? Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake or our shoreline? Criteria has to be established for the proper placement of renewable energy facilities by the State and not by power companies.
As I delve into the workings of these corporations, and the way the power grid works many red flags go up. We need to intelligently look at the reality of all the consequences of the “green energy” movement. Please pass this moratorium to give our state a “time-out” so we as a state can decide what is best for New Hampshire and its people and not the unbridled foreign companies whose object above all else is to make a profit.
Progressive Action New Hampshire 
