Stepping Up To The Plate...

Stepping up to the plate.

I was never much of a ball player. Oh, I could hit a pitch—but it was mostly in self-defense. I didn’t want that fast ball to hit me—so I knocked it out of the way with everything I had. I’ve always had a finely tuned self-preservation instinct. But--when it came to catching a line drive, or throwing with accuracy or strength, or running to beat hell--I was a dud.

Yes, I was one of the last kids picked when teams were chosen for baseball, and I was usually given the position of right or left field. That was okay. Baseball wasn’t one of my strengths, but I had others.

The one thing I learned early-on was that it took courage for me to pick up the bat and step up to the plate. I knew I was a poor player. I knew there was a good chance I’d let my team down, or embarrass myself—or both. But I wasn’t a quitter, and I had pride. If the job of playing baseball had to be done, I’d do it--whether I liked it, or not. Whether it caused a knot of dread in my stomach, or not. Whether I excelled in it, or not.

It’s what had to be done.

Right now, there’s something else which needs doing, and I’ve been amazed at how many Mainers have stepped up to the proverbial ‘plate’. Out of 20 pieces of legislation proposed by citizens in the hopes of bringing fairness and balance to the wind energy plan, and in an effort to protect Mainers’ health, quality of life, and property values--only one bill has survived.

LD1366.

Rep. Stacey Fitts, co-chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, proposed an amendment to this bill, after promoting the demise of the others. In an attempt to appear as though our words weren’t “falling on deaf ears”—this amendment offers to move up—from 2013 to 2012—a previously mandated study of ‘wind’.

In essence, this is a “do nothing” bill.

Hearing and responding to the concerns of his constituents, as well as the constituents of many other Legislators, Rep. Larry Dunphy, of District 88, has submitted a “minority report” version of this bill. His version of LD 1366 would establish a set-back of 1.5 miles from the base of industrial turbines to residences. On-the-ground studies have shown that at distances of over 7,500 feet, the deleterious effects of industrial wind’s unique sounds and vibrations are diminished in areas which aren’t mountainous in terrain. This setback would protect hundreds—if not thousands—of Mainers from potential health effects and reductions in real estate property values. At the same time, Rep. Dunphy’s version of the bill would grant to Mainers something which the Wind Energy Act took away. Freedom of choice. If land-owners within that 1.5 mile setback wish to opt out and petition the siting authority for a variance, they can do exactly that.

It’s a win-win, right? Additionally, the need for sound studies would be removed. Rep. Dunphy’s version of this bill will save Maine tax-payers money.

Protect the health of Mainers. Give them freedom of choice. And save them money.

What’s not to love?

Please write to the members of Maine’s House and Senate, and ask them to pass the MINORITY REPORT version of LD 1366. I am pasting in their addresses below, to make the process a little simpler. All you need to do is write a simple note asking that they support the MINORITY REPORT VERSION OF LD 1366… a bill which is NOT anti-wind, but pro-Mainers. Copy and paste the addresses into the ‘bcc’ part of your email. And click SEND.

Your voices should be heard. Your votes and opinions matter. Please support Mainers’ rights and ask that our Legislators pass Rep. Dunphy’s minority report version of LD 1366.

Thanks. You will make a difference, if you take the time to ‘have a say’.

************************
Emails for the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate (just copy and paste)

kent23@myfairpoint.net, RepJohn.Martin@legislature.maine.gov, RepBernard.Ayotte@legislature.maine.gov, pedgecom@maine.rr.com, mikeblackbear@gmail.com, tyleraclark@msn.com, alexander.willette@gmail.com, RepJoyce.Fitzpatrick@legislature.maine.gov, rdl_chief@yahoo.com, clarkhe@beeline-online.net, jeffery.gifford@gmail.com, duchesne@midmaine.com, jdill@umext.maine.edu, RepAdam.Goode@legislature.maine.gov, cdicemom@aol.com, RepSara.Stevens@legislature.maine.gov, jparker339@roadrunner.com, emily.cain@gmail.com, djhouse20@gmail.com, texn77@aol.com, repguerin@gmail.com, richardsond@hermon.net, fwintle@gmail.com, fredlaw@myfairpoint.net, RepDavis@midmaine.com, rumridge27@gmail.com, mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com, gjmaker@gmail.com, dburnsinv@midmaine.com, dtilton@maineline.net, info@crockerhouse.com, elsie.flemings@gmail.com, wkumiega36@gmail.com, chapmanHD37@gmail.com, andre@andrecushing.com, Kurlykim40@aol.com, jgillway@yahoo.com, riouxrep@aol.com, erinherbig@gmail.com, aobrien2008@gmail.com, ryan.harmon82@yahoo.com, joanwelsh08@gmail.com, EdMazurek1@aol.com, cbkruger@myfairpoint.net, wes893@aol.com, danadow2050@yahoo.com, Jon@JonMcKane.com, deb.sanderson@hotmail.com, RepLes.Fossel@legislature.maine.gov, morissette2010@gmail.com, cotta@fairpoint.net, annadblodgett@yahoo.com, maeghanformaine@gmail.com, kdfoster@roadrunner.com, lincoln67@myfairpoint.net, kerrilprescott@gmail.com, bmacdon@roadrunner.com, HL7mike@gwi.net, cpriest1@comcast.net, kimolsendistrict64@hotmail.com, pskentz5@hotmail.com, seth@sethberry.org, mike@mikeformaine.org, bolduc74@yahoo.com, bick0585@aol.com, lajoie1@midmaine.com, mikecarey123@gmail.com, rwagner@bates.edu, mrotundo@bates.edu, Woodysnavy@gmail.com, henry.beck@gmail.com, thomas.longstaff@gmail.com, RepRobert.Nutting@legislature.maine.gov, RepSharon.Treat@legislature.maine.gov, mln@fairpoint.net, LGary.Knight@usa.net, patricksaflood@roadrunner.com, keschl@yahoo.com, jjpicc@gmail.com, jeffmccabe4me@gmail.com, pdcurtis2@hotmail.com, pegilbert@hotmail.com, lanceharvell@hotmail.com, russellblack@juno.com, jarrodscrockett@gmail.com, petersonhouse08@gmail.com, sheryljbriggs@gmail.com, terry@megalink.net, twinsor@megalink.net, jtimberlake_us@yahoo.com, rankin8076@roadrunner.com, RepPaul.Waterhouse@legislature.maine.gov, rwsarty@fairpoint.net, rep.hamp@yahoo.com, RepRich.Cebra@legislature.maine.gov, utumike@aol.com, mmcclell@maine.rr.com, dalecrafts@aol.com, RepEllie.Espling@legislature.maine.gov, dcwebster@comcast.net, melissawalshinnes@gmail.com, meredith@burgessadv.com, apg1@maine.rr.com, RepMarkBryant@yahoo.com, geplummer@aol.com, mpn3@maine.rr.com, pstuckey114@yahoo.com, steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net, deniseharlow@hotmail.com, annehask@maine.rr.com, votechipman@gmail.com, RepDiane.Russell@legislature.maine.gov, dillesquire@aol.com, tmorrison16@msn.com, eberleja@earthlink.net, kaenrath@gmail.com, annpeoples116@msn.com, tdrisco1@maine.rr.com, avolk@volkboxes.com, hsirocki@maine.rr.com, knappjanes09@gmail.com, lindafsanborn@gmail.com, huntforlegislature@gmail.com, RepGeorge.Hogan@legislature.maine.gov, dpilon@maine.rr.com, lmvalentino54@yahoo.com, megan.rochelo@gmail.com, acasavant@maine.rr.com, dburnsy12@gmail.com, RepWayne.Parry@legislature.maine.gov, bennettco2000@hotmail.com, sixwings@metrocast.net, RepJohn.Tuttle@legislature.maine.gov, RepJoan.Nass@legislature.maine.gov, libertymom1@msn.com, markweves@yahoo.com, kathydhchase@hotmail.com, bmoulton@localnet.com, wcw63@aol.com, RepDevin.Beliveau@legislature.maine.gov, waymitch10@hotmail.com, Sipayik@midmaine.com, mthibmyrep@aol.com, SenPhilip.Bartlett@legislature.maine.gov, cwrector@hotmail.com, RepStacey.Fitts@legislature.maine.gov, rep.hamp@yahoo.com, dacray@msn.com, skime2@roadrunner.com, RepAaron.Libby@legislature.maine.gov,RepJon.Hinck@legislature.maine.gov,
acornell@alexcornell.org, rbbeavers@comcast.net, mndion@msn.com, RepLouis.Luchini@legislature.maine.gov,


SenDawn.Hill@legislature.maine.gov,
SenRonald.Collins@legislature.maine.gov,
SenJon.Courtney@legislature.maine.gov,
SenNancy.Sullivan@legislature.maine.gov,
SenBarry.Hobbins@legislature.maine.gov,
SenLawrence.Bliss@legislature.maine.gov,
SenJohn.Patrick@legislature.maine.gov,
SenJoe.Brannigan@legislature.maine.gov,
SenStan.Gerzofsky@legislature.maine.gov,
SenRichard.Woodbury@legislature.maine.gov,
SenBill.Diamond@legislature.maine.gov,
dhastings@hastings-law.com,
SenJohn.Patrick@legislature.maine.gov,
senlois@roadrunner.com,
SenMargaret.Craven@legislature.maine.gov,
SenGarrett.Mason@legislature.maine.gov,
SenThomas.Saviello@legislature.maine.gov,
seth@sethgoodall.com,
dptrahan@roadrunner.com,
demccormick@.tds.net,
SenRoger.Katz@legislature.maine.gov,
SenThomas.Martin@legislature.maine.gov,
rodwhittemore@gmail.com,
firewood@tds.net,
SenBrian.Langley@legislature.maine.gov,
Senator@KevinRaye.com,
schneidersenate@msn.com,
rrosen113@aol.com,
nichi@aol.com,
SenDebra.Plowman@legislature.maine.gov,
SenRoger.Sherman@legislature.maine.gov,
SenTroy.Jackson@legislature.maine.gov,