December 3, 2007
Illinois, Letters

Few benefit from wind farms

Whoa, why are Paul Jacobs comments so personal? At no time have I ever personally criticized him or any of the other wind farm participating land owners. They made the choice for their property.

The point I make is that if one rents or leases land for custom farming it doesn’t cost me or any other county resident anything for that custom farmer’s combine or its repair or the fuel that goes into it and the landowner collects the payments. However, if wind turbines are constructed there become extra costs incurred by the county, for reasons that have been mentioned in previous articles, which will be passed onto the taxpayers over time with no benefit to our energy costs, and landowners will still collect payment. Mr. Jacobs mentioned that my column was to “discredit the positive aspects about wind farms,” but then he failed to list any of those aspects.

Look, I barely know Mr. Jacobs other than who he is and that he is a wind farm participant. I’m just a John Q. Public guy who lives in rural Stephenson County, I’m a working stiff that pays my taxes, putting my kids through school and trying to make each day better than the day before. Yes, I have strong opinions about the wind farm issue, not that I believe wind energy is good or bad, rather that the whole episode has been handled so wrongly. Thirteen months ago I had no opinion at all, then I attended a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing and could not believe the audacity of the supporters and participants toward those who objected.

Then eleven months ago I was part of a group of residents from both Lancaster and Waddams townships that drafted a compromising plan for proper and safe zoning setbacks of wind turbines with property protection for neighboring residents.

When that proposal was presented to the county’s Plan Commission it was rejected with one board member making the comment “we don’t owe these people anything,” I guess forgetting that “these people” are tax paying citizens? Since that time the county’s zoning laws and ordinances have been eliminated and modified to suit only those who support the plan. It is that kind of disrespect that has led to my stance today.

Tom Moyer

Freeport

The Journal-Standard

3 December 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/03/few-benefit-from-wind-farms/