Iowa wind bill blitz

Source: National Wind Watch | Action alerts, Iowa, Law, Setbacks

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Update, March 11:

All of the bills died. ‘We were never going to get what we needed, not with the wind industry’s very strong lobby. Most likely we would’ve backed into a “compromise” (we all know how well the wind industry compromises) and we would’ve been stuck with a bill that helps very few, if anyone. We were pleased and emboldened by the express support from many of our legislators.’

Update, March 5:

SF 361 is the only wind energy bill still in play.

The bill was passed through Subcommittee and is heading to Committee.

We do not like how it is now written and we have been assured that it can be amended.

What we have asked for is “no less than 5 times total height or 2550 ft, whichever is greater” from the property line. (The wind companies can get waivers from landowners/residents – it shouldn’t be a problem if they have as much support as they say they do.)

We will not negotiate from that stance. We would rather have no bill.

We have been told directly from lawmakers that we have more support than we know. The day we were at the Capitol many lawmakers told us they support us.

We cannot stress enough that the lawmakers do not know what we don’t tell them.

The wind industry has lobbyists. We have thousands of rural residents that have been stepped on. We all need each other to fight this!

We have heard it is best to call or text!!

Just briefly say you do not support industrial wind or that you do support 1/2 mile setbacks from property lines. We are filling in the details with Legislators.

The next step will be to do something about the existing nuisance wind turbines so help us get the ball rolling even if you already have wind turbines.

Call or text these lawmakers – they are on the Committee that is dealing with SF361:

Senator Carrie Koelker
Cell phone: 563.590.5975
Capitol phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Michael Breitbach
Cell phone: 563.920.7399
Capitol phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Dan Dawson
Home phone: 712.256.1199
Cell phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Randy Feenstra
Home phone: 712.439.1244
Capitol phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Craig Johnson
Home phone: 319.334.2413
Capitol phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Home phone: 641.683.7551
Cell phone: 641.226.0528

Senator Zach Nunn
Cell phone: 515.519.2246
Capitol phone: 515.281.3371

Senator Amy Sinclair
Cell phone: 641.870.0199

Senator Roby Smith
Home phone: 563.386.0179

Just in case you would rather email….
I would suggest you put your opinion in the subject line of the email. Something like:
– SF 361 @ 1/2 mile setbacks
– Say NO to wind turbines
– Property rights, not turbines

They told us they receive 300-700 emails a day. Being succinct serves you well!

carrie.koelker@legis.iowa.gov
michael.breitbach@legis.iowa.gov
dan.dawson@legis.iowa.gov
randy.feenstra@legis.iowa.gov
craig.johnson@legis.iowa.gov
mariannette.miller-meeks@legis.iowa.gov
zach.nunn@legis.iowa.gov
amy.sinclair@legis.iowa.gov
roby.smith@legis.iowa.gov

(((( o ))))

Wind Warriors Past and Present! —

Our friends in Iowa are desperate! If you have any contacts in Iowa, please help.

As the home of Senator Charles Grassley, who wrote the original federal Production Tax Credit bill in 1992, Iowa is a crucial battle line. There is now significant pushback in Iowa against the continued encroachment of ever-larger wind turbines near homes and workplaces, not to mention the environmental destruction to valuable farmland and habitat.

In response, the state legislature is fielding several bills concerning wind energy development. They are all at preliminary stages right now, but needless to say, there is a lot of activity around them. The legislators need to hear from the people, not just the wind industry lobby.

So far, these are the bills at play, with their salient points:

Senate File 361 – Senators Brown, Chapman, Zaun, and Edler –
Setback greater of 2-1/2 times total height or 1,250 feet from nonparticipating property.

Senate File 232 – Senator Zaun –
Setback 500 feet from property line.

House File 159 – Representative Shipley –
County board of supervisors “may establish standards and requirements regarding the installation or siting of wind energy conversion facilities located within the jurisdiction of the county and shall make the final determination regarding the installation or siting of any such facility” (instead of the Iowa Utilities Board).

House File 193 – Representative Shipley –
Setback 2,500 feet from residential property line.

Relevant news development: Jeff Danielson, after 15 years in the Iowa Senate, takes job with American Wind Energy Association to lead advocacy efforts across the Midwestern and Plains states.

Iowa contact: Janna Swanson, President of the Coalition for Rural Property Rights and National Wind Watch board member

Thank you!