What will Calumet County look like in five years if the current wind energy regulations remain in place? That question can be answered by taking a drive a mere five miles into Fond du Lac County, to an area just east of Johnsburg.
At this time, approximately 10 of 88 wind turbines in this project have been assembled. You will get to see what an approximately 400-foot tall wind turbine looks like in a residential area.
All sorts of people live in these homes – young parents trying to raise their families in a quiet and peaceful setting to retired folks who spent their life savings to settle down in the peaceful countryside and everyone in between.
You will see how this peaceful setting will be disrupted forever. You will see how the countryside has been scarred. You may also notice “for sale” signs on homes in the area.
Reading about setbacks and looking at pictures of wind turbines does not give justice to their sheer size. A first-hand visit in a populated environment similar to Calumet County (as opposed to a “traditional” wind farm in a sparsely populated area) can be an eye-opener.
Getting to these turbines is relatively easy. From Johnsburg, go east on County Q, take a right onto Oak Road, and then take a left onto Maple Road.
Since the Calumet County Board of Supervisors will be discussing and possibly voting on Wind Energy Ad Hoc Committee recommendations Thursday morning, I urge you to visit sooner rather than later, and tell your supervisor if this is the way you want our future to look.
Connie Gehl,
Chilton
12 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/12/take-a-quick-drive-to-see-reality-of-wind-turbines/