January 23, 2011
Letters, Wisconsin

Current regulations ignore property owners

Wisconsin State Journal, host.madison.com 23 January 2011

Your Jan. 15 front-page article “Measure a threat to wind farms,” speaks mostly unfavorably of the impact of Gov. Scott Walker’s bill prohibiting construction of wind turbines closer than 1,800 feet from property lines.

Walker states he is protecting property owners and, fortunately, someone is finally doing that. The Public Service Commission guidelines certainly do not provide adequate protection to property owners.

The failure by the industry and the PSC to address the citizens already suffering from excessive sound levels and decreased property values tells me the risk is mine as a potential neighbor of 400-foot to 500-foot turbines.

If the PSC guidelines didn’t reflect the state real estate association data on decreased property values, and if the industry cannot guarantee acceptable sound levels prior to construction, then the risk is all mine.

Therefore, as long as there is not a clear and easy recourse to be sure my rights and property values are protected, I will object to construction of wind turbines near me.

The “common good” must be balanced with individual rights. In that regard, I will observe the treatment by the industry and government of those already suffering health issues and property losses. Right now, these citizens seem to be ignored.

Elaine Strassburg, Evansville


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/23/current-regulations-ignore-property-owners/