May 12, 2011
Ohio

Ohio wind turbines spark mixed reaction

WANE, www.wane.com 11 May 2011

More than 50 wind turbines are expected to be up and running in northwest Ohio by the end of next month. People living in Paulding County have mixed emotions about their new neighbors.

Horizon Wind Energy is building 55 turbines and another 38 are expected by the end of the year.

“We get so much wind here I’ve always though the wind was a good idea and it’s finally happened,” said Tom Carr. “They’re streamlined, they’re not fat, the blades are really graceful, and they don’t look that bad to the eye.”

Michael Jones, who can see 40 of the 55 turbines from his yard, is already fed up. “Although a lot of people like to drive by and look at them, when you live here, it’s pretty much an eyesore,” he explained. “You see them all day and every day.”

Jones is also worried about what the turbines will mean for the future. “I immediately felt like our property value would probably go down. There is a light show on at night because about 30% of the towers have lights on them and they flicker simultaneously.”

To help ease the tension, the companies offered an annual paycheck to anyone living within 2500 feet of a turbine. It’s supposed to pay for the inconvenience and any other problems that may come up.

Michael Jones said he’s not accepting the check. “I don’t agree with it so I’m not going to take their money. If I take their money, it’s just saying I agree with it.”

“We signed up to get the money because they were going to come in anyhow,” countered Tom Carr.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/12/ohio-wind-turbines-spark-mixed-reaction/