Download “Union, Wisc., Testimony on Noise and Health” (17.3 MB)

Click here to listen to or download the MP3 file (18 MB).

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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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Click here to see previous ads.

Op-Ed, Evansville Observer, March 7, 2008

If you click here you can listen in as the Town of Union Board discuss the current situation of the Wind Turbine draft ordinance and the possible options for moving to enactment in consideration of the possiblity of the State of Wisconsin moving to make the Public Utility Commission the key entity in reviewing permits.

The irony: As you will recall the study committee had found in its research that the State of Wisconsin had literally conducted zero legislative inquiry into the health and safety effects of set backs of wind turbines despite the fact that the WHO and the world community had plentiful data on these matters.

Responding to that egg on the face, the state moved quickly last week in meetings that were called on short notice and as described by Kendell Schneider, Town of Union board chair, the lobby representatives were given ample time to speak and then with the time expiring in the open hearings, the public was given a few minutes — most left unheard and in disgust.

The conclusion made by the folks from Union who had endured the week of meetings: Why would the towns bend over backwards to give extensive public input, when the State acts in such disregard.

At the end of the day nobody gets it. The problem was that in haste errors were made. Now to compound the error, more haste and closed decision making is embraced by the state … and now possibly by the towns.

How will these matters all be decided? By the PUC over a three martini lunch?

You make the call.

Reply by Tom Alisankus

When the wind energy proponents realized that the proposed Union Twsp. large wind turbine ordinance was supported by unimpeachable scientific and medical research — and thus completely defensible in court–they took their well financed lobby to the Wisconsin Legislature to stop us. They realized that our ordinance — the product of hundreds of hours of hard work–would likely become the REAL ‘model’ ordinance for local communities around the state, which would mean that the wind companies would not be able to put these turbines where ever they wanted, thus losing thousands of dollars. And you’ve already detailed the rest. Funny how fast the Legislature can move when it wants to.

This is government at its worst. It highlights how morally bankrupt some of our representatives in government actually are. And it all has to do with money. In other facets of society, they have a name for people who trade something immoral for money.

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!

DEAR WIND TURBINE COMPANIES (EcoEnergy and Midwest Wind Energy),

We are pleading with you to please answer a few of the questions we submitted to you several times over the last year. We are desperately waiting for you to respond.

1. If a turbine is sited 1,150’ from our homes, will we be affected by the noise? Please provide scientific documentation. The National Academy Study recommends 2,640′ to mitigate noise. Will we have headaches, loss of sleep, stress, and heart disease as a result of the low frequency noise? Will your legal counsel provide your claims in writing to us?

2. Will the quality of our drinking water be affected by the turbines and the miles upon miles of trenches that will be dug for the electrical wires? Please provide documented scientific proof. What happens if our water is affected? Will you sign a legal document stating that it is your responsibility to compensate for water problems?

3. Can you tell us without any doubt that we will have broadband wireless access for our computers and cell phones with no interference? Please provide examples and sources to talk to. All of our sources tell us there will be interference.

For the HEALTH & SAFETY of Calumet County Citizens, please submit your answers to:

CALUMET COUNTY CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE ENERGY
P.O. BOX 1 / CHILTON, WI 53014

   
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Sometimes it makes sense to WAIT.

When you were a child, your parents warned you to WAIT for traffic to
clear before crossing the street.

When you were young, your parents warned you to WAIT a while after
eating before going swimming. You might cramp up, you know.

When you got a little older, family or friends might have warned you to
WAIT about getting too serious too soon with certain relationships.

If you don’t WAIT to check everything over when buying that used car, you
might end up with a lemon.

If you followed all their good advice to WAIT, you’re sitting here healthy and happy today.

So if you’re a Calumet County landowner thinking about having one or more wind turbines placed on your property, why not WAIT until the Johnsburg area turbines are up and operating to see what the real concerns might be?

For the health and happiness of Calumet County, PLEASE take a WAIT-and-see approach on wind turnines!

Calumet County Citizens for RESPONSIBLE Energy
920-418-1888

In Wisconsin, local governments can prevent an energy development only on health and safety grounds. This “reform” would take away that right. In addition, this “reform” proposes easing any remaining burden on the developer.

“7. Specific Description of Policy Proposal: Legislation would contain the following elements: (1) definitions of large and small wind energy systems; (2) a requirement on the PSC to draft uniform standards for siting large and small wind energy systems; (3) creation of an optional process for PSC review of projects under 100 MW that have large wind energy systems; (4) a mechanism for allowing parties to appeal a decision rendered by a local jurisdiction to the PSC; (5) extending Chapter 227 judicial review provisions to wind projects permitted by local jurisdictions, including the ability to appeal a decision under 100 MW; and (6) a prohibition on local ordinances restricting meteorological test towers. These provisions would essentially require the PSC to promulgate standards for local review, such as setback distances and sound output, and apply them to both agency-reviewed projects as well as those reviewed by local land use authorities.

“The new rules adopted by the Commission for wind projects under 100 MW would be less rigorous than what is required under the CPCN process. The developer should not be required to demonstrate need, nor should the developer be required to present an alternative site as part of the permit application.

“8. Timetables, Duration and Stringency Option: Once the legislation is enacted, the PSC would have a specified period of time to adopt emergency rules establishing uniform standards for permitting wind projects. These standards would apply to PSC-reviewed wind projects as well as those reviewed by local jurisdictions. These rules would remain in effect indefinitely.

… Today, at least 400 MW of wind projects currently under development are subject to local restrictions [e.g., wind ordinances in Manitowoc, Door and Shawano counties and the Town of Stockbridge (Calumet County) and the moratoria in Calumet and Trempealeau counties and the Town of Glenmore (Brown County)] that prevent them from going forward.

Download “Wisconsin Wind Siting Reform”

The event, which is hosted by Calumet County Citizens for Responsible Energy, is free and open to the public.

Dr. Nina Pierpont, a pediatrician, will speak on the “wind turbine syndrome” and the health effects of wind turbines on humans. Dr. Richard Bolton, a physicist and president of the Environmental Compliance Alliance, will talk about the environmental impact of wind turbine noise on humans and wildlife.

Both Pierpont and Bolton will give their presentations in a teleconference.

Other speakers are being scheduled.

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter