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Will Calumet County avoid Johnsburg’s fate?

It was only by chance that Bill and Mike Winkler, who grew up on the family farm in northeast Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, learned about plans for wind turbines in the area. They saw a small ad about an informational meeting in a local newspaper. Then they learned that landowners were already signing agreements — before the meeting was even held.

As Bill and Mike attended meetings and did their own research, they became very concerned about the future. But when they and a few other residents tried to ask questions about what they heard might be 88 turbines installed, they felt shut out. Others didn’t say anything, perhaps afraid to make waves. Some jumped at any chance to make money. The atmosphere in what had been a close-knit community became strained. “Now it’s neighbor against neighbor. I used to be proud to live here,” said Mike. He got so uncomfortable that he moved and wrote a book detailing their experiences.

Bill still lives on Maple Road, across from the old family farm. But it has become an other-worldly landscape, transformed by monstrous towers with huge blades ready to slice the sky. The 400-foot machines surround his home. One seems to loom over him. It is supposed to be 1000 feet from his house. But he and his brother can’t check. The area is secured and heavily patrolled and they don’t want to be cited for trespassing.

The huge industrial turbines will be set into motion this month. Bill is left to wonder and to worry. What will be the impact of sound and shadows? What will it be like when spring and summer arrive, with windows open to fresh air and people spending more time outside? Bill has already heard regrets from some, talking though they are forbidden to by the gag order.

But what has already happened in Johnsburg can’t be undone. Now that the utility company owns the 88 turbines and has the power of eminent domain (the right to condemn your land), how many more turbines will be implanted here? Bill has already received a letter detailing expansion of the project to another 40 turbines.

How will the documented health and safety problems that can occur with industrial wind turbines affect those living there?

What other consequences will they suffer because some put money ahead of a neighbor’s plight? How much more taxpayer money will be wasted to fund an inefficient energy source during these tight economic times?

What residents in other areas will soon find that they, too, are in the path of an ill-conceived rush to this one renewable?

Learn. See for yourself. Visit Johnsburg.

Then contact your county supervisors.

Ask them to support the Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations and a one-year moratorium to study Johnsburg.

Protect the health and safety of our residents.

CCC4RE: Calumet County Citizens for Responsible Energy

920-418-1888 / P.O. BOX 1 / CHILTON, WI 53014

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Now each morning when I awake, I pray and then ask myself, “What have I done?”

I am involved with the BlueSky/Greenfield wind turbine project in N.E. Fond du Lac County. I am also a successful farmer who cherishes his land. My father taught me how to farm, to be a steward of my fields, and by doing so, produce far better crop production. As I view this year’s crops, my eyes feast on a most bountiful supply of corn and soybeans. And then my eyes focus again on the trenches and road scars leading to the turbine foundations. What have I done?

In 2003, the wind energy company made their first contacts with us. A $2,000 “incentive” started the process of winning us over, a few of us at a time. The city salesmen would throw out their nets, like fishermen trawling for fish. Their incentive “gift” first lured some of us in. Then the salesmen would leave and let us talk with other farmers. When the corporate salesmen returned, there would be more of us ready to sign up; farmers had heard about the money to be made. Perhaps because we were successful farmers, we were the leaders and their best salesmen.

Sometime in 2004 or 2005, we signed $4,000 turbine contracts allowing them to “lease” our land for their needs. Our leases favored the company, but what did we know back then? Nobody knew what we were doing. Nobody realized all the changes that would occur, over which we would have no control. How often my friends and I have made that statement: What have I done?!

I watched stakes being driven in the fields and men using GPS monitors to place markers here and there. When the cats and graders started tearing 22-foot-wide roads into my fields, the physical changes started to impact not only me and my family, but, unfortunately, also my dear friends and neighbors. Later, a 4-foot-deep by 2-foot-wide trench was started diagonally across my field. A field already divided by their road was now being divided again by the cables running to a substation. It was now making one large field into 4 smaller irregularly shaped plots. Other turbine hosts also complained about their fields being subdivided or multiple cable trenches requiring more of their land. Roads were cut in using anywhere from 1,000 feet to over half a mile of land to connect the locations. We soon realized that the company places roads and trenches where they will benefit the company most, not the landowner. One neighbor’s access road is right next to some of his outbuildings. Another’s is right next to his fence line.

At a wind company dinner presented for the farmers hosting the turbines, we were repeatedly told — nicely and indirectly — to stay away from the company work sites once they start. I watched as my friends faces showed the same concern I had, but none of us spoke out. Months later, when I approached a crew putting in lines where they promised me they definitely would not go, a representative told me I could not be there. He insisted that I leave. The line went in. The company had the right. I had signed the lease.

Grumbling started almost immediately after we agreed to 2% yearly increases on our 30-year lease contracts. Some felt we should have held out for 10%. What farmer would lock in the price of corn over the next 5 years, yet alone lock one in at 2% yearly for 30 years? Then rumors emerged that other farmers had received higher yearly rates, so now contracts varied. The fast-talking city sales folk had successfully delivered their plan. Without regard for our land, we were allowing them to come in and spoil it. All of the rocks we labored so hard to pick in our youth were replaced in a few hours by miles of roads packed hard with 10 inches of large breaker rock. Costly tiling that we installed to improve drainage had now been cut into pieces by company trenching machines.

Each night, a security team rides down our roads checking the foundation sites. They are checking for vandals and thieves. Once, when I had ventured with guests to show them foundation work, security stopped us and asked me, standing on my own property, what I was doing there. What have I done?

Now, at social functions, we can clearly see the huge division this has created among community members. Suddenly, there are strong-sided discussions and heated words between friends and, yes, between relatives about wind turbines. Perhaps this is a greater consequence than the harm caused to my land — life is short, and friendships are precious.

I tried, as did some of the other farmers, to get out of our contracts, but we had signed a binding contract. If you are considering placing wind turbines on your property, I strongly recommend that you please reconsider. Study the issues. Think of all the harm to your land, and, in the future, to your children’s land, versus the benefits from allowing companies to lease your land for turbines.

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

PLEASE DO NOT DO WHAT I HAVE DONE!