This commentary is by Lucie Daley, a resident of Lemington.
I am against the Twin States Energy Link proposed to be built through the scenic and relatively quiet Vermont Route 102 for many reasons.
I am not the conspiracy theory-type of person, but I do ask questions — lots of questions — and don’t trust government to make decisions for me, nor these large companies just trying to make money off the little guy.
Right now, National Grid, the company proposing to build the Link, is trying to get federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, specifically the Transmission Facilitation Program.
Now is our time to speak up to stop this. Even if they don’t get funding, they still intend to push this project forward by extending the time frame. We need to band together and share our opinions.
For me, the most important aspect is our health. Our health, my health, my children’s health, the health of future generations may be compromised with the high levels of electric magnetic fields, a type of radiation we will be exposed to every day by having this in our front yards.
Many people on Route 102 live very close to the road where these lines are proposed to run though. I will not trade my health for money or a potential reduction in taxes.
We also have a few farms directly on the route, and the cows whose milk we consume will be exposed to the same radiation as humans. I do not want my egg-laying chickens and my pets exposed either.
I pride myself on my large garden in my backyard. I also have blueberry bushes and strawberry plants growing. We even raised a beef cow, and we are still relying on this meat. Many enjoy fishing in our river and eating the fish they catch. So much wildlife affected that we rely on in both New Hampshire and Vermont
I am teaching my kids how to be self-sustainable just like my parents did for me. I want them to see the health benefits of growing and knowing our own food.
People affected need to do some research but be sure that the source is reputable, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Focus on high-levels of EMFs. Many people in the area have researched health concerns — feel free to ask around.
I keep coming back to how we were introduced to this project and the smoke-and-mirrors proposal made by National Grid and the public relations company Leonide. They threw large figures of money at each town, money that National Grid will be paying towns annually for 32 years. Lemington was told that it could receive $750,000 per year. The other towns averaged that same figure.
I had questions that took three meetings of asking to finally get answers. National Grid calculated these promised figures by using last year’s tax rates for each town and multiplying it by the grand list value of the project for each town.
Brief background on taxes: Tax rates are figured annually after we set a budget at March Town Meeting. This budget and the town’s grand list that is 1 percent of the total town’s property value are used to calculate the tax rate. The state uses the grand list and the school budget to calculate the school tax.
But National Grid incorrectly figured the tax benefit — more smoke and mirrors. The grand list increases by $400,000 with this $40 million value addition on a little over 7 miles of road in my town. Once the grand list changes, the tax rate needs to be refigured. I have helped figure the tax rate in my town since 2007, and I can explain this better, but not in this letter. National Grid’s figures definitely got everyone’s attention in order to get our support.
These figures also got the attention of our elected officials in both Vermont and New Hampshire, and they gladly supported National Grid by writing letters. It all comes down to money — money for National Grid. Money for our health is how I see it.
I did speak to one of our representatives about how I was displeased that he supported this project. I am sure that he and others did not question the numbers. From what this one man said to me about towns receiving $750,000 each year, I feel he doesn’t understand how town taxes work and how they are set. He fell for the smoke and mirrors. And then he commented in front of others what made me feel was a threat. He implied that he would no longer work to help our towns if we did not agree to the money we can get from this project. What? Who does he work for? He and our other elected officials are supposed to speak for us. We need to speak for ourselves.
I feel that the company is taking advantage of our financially poor area, the lack of industry, and the low population. And our elected officials are focusing on money and only money. Their view is very narrow while I am looking at the bigger picture and the health of our present and future generations.
There is so much more to this project than we realize. People are concerned that this will undermine Route 102 after the compact dirt is displaced and replaced with cement. These Vermont roads are very special — winding, heaving due to frost, cracking, washing out, potholes, and slow to get repaired. Many don’t see this helping our situation.
National Grid will need to access the lines under the road and will install cement “pits” covered by manhole covers. This will disturb the peace and quiet of our homes, our yards, my porch. I enjoy sitting on my relatively quiet porch reading and visiting with friends and family with kids playing in the yard. My kids and many others bicycle this beautiful road. People will drive around the manhole covers to protect their vehicles but will put walkers and bikers at risk. These manholes and the thu-thump sounds will change my lifestyle.
I enjoy watching wildlife cross the road, stop and stare at me when I whistle, being with nature even with traffic. I get the best of both worlds — nature and society. I live in this small town because it isn’t the city. I don’t need to worry about manmade objects in the ground potentially harming my life and the life around me, the noise, and feeling taken advantage of. This is my home and should be my choice.
There is so much more to this project than we realize. We need to look at the bigger picture. We need to band together and let all our elected officials know how we feel about this proposed project. Don’t let these people underestimate us. This affects New Hampshire as well, with the project crossing over near Littleton. Speak up. Protect our health and our lifestyle.
Make the elected officials working for us think about this project in their front yard. What if? Make them consider this project and its impact beyond money. Make your voices heard. Contact information: Rep. Larry Labor, llabor@leg.state.vt.us; Sen. Russ Ingalls, ringalls@leg.state.vt.us; Rep. Scott Beck, sbeck@leg.state.vt.us; Rep. Scott Campbell, scampbell@leg.state.vt.us; Rep. Terri Williams, twilliams@leg.state.vt.us; Sen. Bernie Sanders area contact Beth Stern, Beth_Stern@sanders.senate.gov; U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, balint.house.gov/contact/; Sen Peter Welch, www.welch.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/.
