Why does Rumford deserve any less?

To the Editor:

Recently, the Rumford Board of Selectmen voted 3 to 2 to put their Rumford Wind Ordinance on the June ballot. Many questions remain unanswered by the board concerning their actions pertaining to this ordinance.

One of these questions is in regards to the decommissioning funds. Should these towers cease to function or the company that owns them ceases to exist, decommissioning funds are the monies set aside to remove the towers that are taller than the tallest stack at the Rumford paper mill.

This type of funding is commonplace throughout the wind industry. The majority of the Rumford board believes it is fair to wait 10 years before this funding is in place.

In Dixfield’s wind power ordinance, they require funding to be in place no later than three years into the project. The proposed Bethel regional ordinance requires funding be in place before a permit will even be issued.

The developer First Wind LLC that has shown interest in Rumford has offered other communities (where they proposed wind farms) $50,000 per year, starting in year one, to be set aside. Ask your elected officials Mr. Adley, Mr. Belanger, and Mr. Sterling why they expect less for Rumford taxpayers than other surrounding officials are expecting for their communities.

Time and time again the board has used the word “fair”. Tell them they need to be fair and protect the Rumford citizens, not just the developer. I urge you to vote "no" on the Rumford wind ordinance.

Peter Buotte, Jr.,

Rumford