Those of us that favor the general concept of manufacturing electricity from wind also understand the need to balance the legitimate concerns of non-participating landowners and all of our neighbors, and the need to carefully consider the wisdom of industrializing incomparable and irreplaceable farm land.
Equally important is careful consideration of the trustworthiness of the wind company with which we will be doing business for decades to come. It is unwise to enter into a long-term contract with an unproven wind company.
Who is Invenergy – the developer of the proposed wind farm near Carlock? Does Invenergy have a track record as a reliable operator of wind farms? Or, is Invenergy a venture capitalist intent on profiting by developing a wind farm and then quickly selling the wind farm to another company capable of operating the farm?
Long-term economic feasibility of a wind farm and long-term damage to a community’s growth potential may not be the primary concerns of Invenergy.
In our community, neighbor has been pitted against neighbor and family member against family member. Residents with legitimate concerns and questions about the long-term effect on the community have been branded as “obstructionists” by Invenergy.
McLean County needs to fully assess the impact of the wind farm near Ellsworth before making commitments for further phases of construction.
If the future eventually brings a wind farm to Carlock, we deserve a reputable, reliable wind company that will be an involved corporate citizen of our community for the duration of the long-term contract.
Michael J. Miller
Rural Carlock
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/11/26/wind-farm-developer-needs-track-record/