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Wind turbines make mess of countryside
Credit: The Sun Times, www.owensoundsuntimes.com 9 November 2010 ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
We have a farm in Arran-Elderslie where there is a proposed project on wind turbines in the works. I don’t speak for anyone other than my family and myself, but from talking to folks in the area I sure don’t feel alone. I’m very much against these monstrosities cluttering up the countryside and I really can’t imagine anyone wanting to put one on their property. When I drive from Port Elgin to Kincardine and see what they’ve done to the countryside there I just can’t help but feel “what a mess”.
When we moved here one of the things we appreciated was what a pretty area it was and is – so far. The thought that they would even consider bring the windmills into this area makes me sick.
Before we bought this farm we had looked at farms down in Huron Township. Two of the farms that we looked at and were seriously considering buying have windmills on them today. We wouldn’t consider buying these farms now no matter what the price was. When someone signs up with these windmill guys we have to wonder if they’ve thought through the economics of their deal. I understand that the real estate people consider a property with a windmill on it or near it to be worth about 40% less. I would say that that was a conservative figure. To look at the economics of one of these deals to a landowner almost looks like a scam. Around here they were offering $7,500 to lease your property out for a turbine – wow! If you allowed a turbine onto say a $500,000 farm, all of a sudden you find your farm is maybe worth $300,000. At that rate of payment it would take roughly 26 1/2 years to get back what you have lost on property values.
Not only is this person devaluing their own property big time but he or she is also dropping the value of all the neighbouring properties as well. Close neighbours lose big time, those farther away to a lesser extent. I don’t feel there are going to be many prospective buyers looking to buy these properties in the future other than maybe cash croppers if they can buy these farms cheap enough. This sure seems like selling your soul to the devil to me.
These fellas pushing the windmills are certainly promoters and they seem to have done a real snow job on the government, as well as a whole lot of individuals.
If you decide to go ahead and put one of these wind turbines on your property and you shake hands with these guys to seal your deal be sure to count your fingers afterwards.
Bill Irwin
Southampton
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