I normally give people the benefit of the doubt until they do something that makes me see otherwise. I gave Chris Swartley a good deal of rope because he's in a tough spot (I wouldn't want to be there!), but boy did he blow it last week. The letter to the editor that he submitted to the Daily had a series of really interesting and debatable statements -- but my favorite was his dismissal of the flicker effect.

We've been calling it the disco effect; it's the strobe / flicker caused by the sun rising and/or setting behind the spinning turbine blades. It causes migraines, nausea and dizziness in those who are susceptible to it and it is a primary reason the EPA lists for NOT placing turbines near housing developments (their wording).

Chris stated that flicker wasn't a problem here because of the angle of the sun in this part of North America. Yeah, and the 87th Porcine Airborne just blazed over my house.

The people of PA are unhappy because (in part) of flicker. Residents of Fenner - ditto. Residents of Weathersfield - ditto. Hello? I didn't know Bethany was located in northern Canada.

OK, I'm being more sarcastic than normal ... but this is one of the primary reasons I have trouble supporting a wind project in Bethany. In Oregon, sure! Off the shore of Long Island, you betcha! Off the shore of Lake Ontario, Hell yes! But along Bethany Center and East Roads - two of our most densely populated roads?

Prove to me that this won't be a problem. Without resorting to stupid statements like 'it's not a problem in this region.'