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Farmer chimes in with views on turbine debate 

This letter comes in reply to the comments made by Dennis Diedrick and Richard and Darlene Buechel a while back. I’m not a letter writer because I don’t have the time, but this time I have to. As a farmer I am personally hurt and insulted that being a farmer I am labeled irresponsible and uncaring about the health and safety of my family and friends and neighbors, because as a farmer I am presumed to be in support of wind turbines.

As Mr. Buechel made the point…we all know that farmers support the world. We love our land and do our best to conserve and protect it for ourselves and all who would come after us to resume and continue our way of life and hard work to help our fellow man. But we are not so ignorant as to be in favor of just any idea that comes along and is called helpful and necessary for our future, if in fact there is scientific and medical evidence of its harm to my family and farm.

It surprised me that Mr. Diedrick, being a father himself, would say that people take away their health by smoking and drinking, etc…so why not use this as an acceptable excuse for any health risks and damage to be caused by wind turbines.

People who smoke and drink, do so of their own free will to themselves. It is not forced on them.

It was a very thoughtless remark considering he was presuming to speak for all of us non-smokers and non-drinkers, for children who want the chance to grow up in a healthy environment and the elderly who wish to live in good health as long as possible. What about his own family? I think Mr. Diedrick should apologize.

And Mr. Buechel owes one too. If people living in a farming community complain about odor or noise, its because they have a God-given nose and ears. I myself don’t love the smell of my manure and I have to protect my ears from some loud noises too. City folk complain about the smell of diesel from semi-trucks and the paper mills and the noise of traffic and slow moving traffic jams. But it doesn’t mean they hate farmers or the city.

I know what a treasure I have living in the beautiful country and I don’t mind sharing this gift from God with city folk who want to cherish it too.

I would rather gain another good neighbor on my farm land than see an industrial wind turbine blocking my view of the skyline and in the path of my farm work. I can put up my own silo with blades on top. We farmers don’t have horse blinders on.

We have seen the past and we view the future from all sides of the picture or we wouldn’t be here today and we have hope.

If you wish us farmers to keep doing our best for all, allow us to make our own decisions and speak for ourselves, don’t put your words and ideas into our mouths.

Mr. Diedrick also called for us to respect our elected county and town board members. But the door swings both ways…our elected members should show respect for their citizens and hear their voices.

I knew Mr. Jerry Criter has been nominated for sainthood by some, but if he is such a “good neighbor” and so caring for the area and its people and why being so honest and self-sacrificing, did he on March 6, 2007 recommend adoption of the amendment which removed the Brothertown Zoning Ordinance which forbids a wind energy facility in an agricultural district? Looks like he let the fox into the hen house to me…not to mention stress.

And if Mr. Diedrick thinks that telling the facts about Mr. Criter is a “special interest” tactic, would you say Mr. Criter wanting wind turbines on his land also a “special interest.” I guess Mr. Criter has a very clear view of the “Big Picture” from his window. Now who’s forgetting to respect each other as God’s children? And let’s not put the blame on God for what is happening in the area.

It’s not a challenge from God – remember God made Eden – we made the world around us.

Until wind turbines are proven to be safe and without health risks as it has been proven they are not, the Calumet County Board should be aware that we farmers are not all for wind turbines, just as not all those who are for wind turbines are concerned about environment or “green energy” but have a tunnel vision and see only their own interests and ‘green’ money benefits.

Make the turbine people bring medical and scientific proof of the safety of their product, not just accept their word of mouth praise.

I ask that the Calumet County Board respect the recommendations of their own unbiased and hand chosen ad hoc committee and to follow the example of the Rock County Committee that wind towers should be no closer than one-half mile from any residence and the World Health Organization recommendations of no closer than 1.5 miles from any residence. Maybe there wouldn’t be as many of them put up as some financially interested folk would like but originally they weren’t allowed in this closely populated area at all!

And who’s thinking about financial gains – Aren’t we talking about ‘green energy’?

If the Calumet County Board members can’t see the truth of it all, they must be very simple in mind or too afraid to see it, to the great loss of the people of their community.

I may be just a simple farmer, but I have one question for the Calumet County Board members.

If you can’t or refuse to do the right thing for us – where will you live?

S. Simon

Tri-County News

21 March 2008

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

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