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Is wind worth the risk?
Credit: Daily Telegram, www.lenconnect.com 1 July 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Build a community and the tax base will build itself. Destroy a community and the tax base will disappear.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Eighteen million dollars over the next 20 years may sound like the golden goose has arrived, but uncertainty lingers as to whether the personal property tax will continue. Jobs will be another unfilled promise. In Ubly, Michigan, 46 turbines employ one local resident. Huron County officials thought wind energy would solve the economic woes of Huron County. Now they are greatly concerned about the loss of the personal property tax and admit that the wind projects “have not created the number of long-term jobs initially discussed or anticipated.” (EDC Director, Carl Osentoski, Huron Daily Tribune June 16, 2011, “County Officials Propose creating trust fund”) www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2011/06/16/news/local_news/doc4df9ebaea1870697954964.txt
These developments have destroyed our community and are destroying communities all over the Midwest. In Huron County people who are concerned about the development of more wind projects are afraid to speak up for fear of alienating not only family members and friends, but even for fear of losing their job. The minority pushing wind development in Huron County are powerful landowners with the assistance of the wind developers. The money spent by wind advocates during last November’s referendum for two wind overlay districts was over $116,000.00 contributed either in cash or services by DTE, Heritage Sustainable Energy, Consumers Power, RES Americas, Barton Malow, NE Wind Project, United Wind Energy Group, Bauer Services PC, Midland Energy LLC, et al miboecfr.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cfr/com_det.cgi?com_id=515326
Close to $94,000 in cash and in kind contributions was donated by DTE who has acquired easements on more than 80,000 acres in Huron County. They had a huge stake in the outcome of that referendum. Elected officials have taken an oath to protect the health, welfare and safety of the members of their community. Big business has a duty to make a profit for their stockholders. It takes principles and ethics to be a leader in a community and it takes the electorate to be actively involved in their community, its leadership and its future.
Valerie McCallum
Township Clerk
Lake Township, Huron County
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