NIMBY Syndrome: lawsuits against windmills

While his wind turbines save him from outrageous utility bills, they don’t save him from the ire of his neighbors. Michael Mercurio of Long Beach Island was sued by his neighbors after he put up a 35-foot tall wind turbine in his backyard.

Claiming that the turbine caused all sorts of noise, attracted a lot of on-lookers, and was not aesthetically pleasing to them, the neighbors complained. While stating their support for alternative energy sources, they just don’t want them near their homes. A classic case of NIMBY, or Not-In-My-Back-Yard Syndrome.

Mercurio’s efforts to reduce his dependence on the power with his turbine has lowered his utility bills from US$ 340 a month to an amazing US$ 114 a year, but the town ordered that the turbine be switched off. The court case has been bounced between the courts and the land use board, probably not for the last time.

With wind power becoming all the more popular as an easily accessible alternative energy source, opinions have been seen to hinge on one’s proximity to the turbine. People do support it. Suzanne Leta Liou, spokeswoman for Environment New Jersey, simply stated that, “We should be trying to maximize our wind potential instead of prohibiting it.” With wind power being used across the country in increasing numbers, a lot of people think so too.

While his wind turbines save him from outrageous utility bills, they don’t save him from the ire of his neighbors. Michael Mercurio of Long Beach Island was sued by his neighbors after he put up a 35-foot tall wind turbine in his backyard.

Claiming that the turbine caused all sorts of noise, attracted a lot of on-lookers, and was not aesthetically pleasing to them, the neighbors complained. While stating their support for alternative energy sources, they just don’t want them near their homes. A classic case of NIMBY, or Not-In-My-Back-Yard Syndrome.

Mercurio’s efforts to reduce his dependence on the power with his turbine has lowered his utility bills from US$ 340 a month to an amazing US$ 114 a year, but the town ordered that the turbine be switched off. The court case has been bounced between the courts and the land use board, probably not for the last time.

With wind power becoming all the more popular as an easily accessible alternative energy source, opinions have been seen to hinge on one’s proximity to the turbine. People do support it. Suzanne Leta Liou, spokeswoman for Environment New Jersey, simply stated that, “We should be trying to maximize our wind potential instead of prohibiting it.” With wind power being used across the country in increasing numbers, a lot of people think so too.