Wind farm fight is all of ours
New Richmond News | www.newrichmond-news.com 2 August 2012
“It is human nature to protect the health and safety of one’s family or community. You do it. We do it. But, as developers of the proposed Highland Wind Farm project in the Town of Forest, we also understand the power of misinformation and its impact on forming opinions.” Jay Mundinger, New Richmond News Letter to the Editor, July 19, 2012
Mundinger, one of the founding partners of Emerging Energies (EE) LLC, addresses the issue of health and safety with compassion and empathy; however his words are moot when one considers that the wind farms EE has developed are not outside his window.
But, is such a telling word, Merriam-Webster defines it as: except for the fact. When reading Mundinger’s statements it is telling that except for the fact that the alleged health risks are to your family and community and not his. Except for the fact, that it is your community and your investment in property that may be at risk, not his. Except for the fact that allegedly 20 of the 243 (U.S. Census Bureau) households in the Town of Forest have signed on for wind turbines. Except for the fact that majority rule is lost when it comes to the promise of big payouts for the mere cost of collateral damage (health, property value, loss of birds and bats, agricultural land, increased electrical cost, road damage… and the beauty of St. Croix County) a small price to pay when the developers stand to gain millions. Except for the fact that peer reviewed studies based on commercial turbines regarding the effects of stray voltage, low resonance sound, infra sound, shadow flicker, property devaluation and a host of other issues are not readily available from sources in the United States; however, studies in American industrial health and European studies clearly show the dangers.
Except for the fact that we all have a stake in what happens in the Town of Forest, we could go about our lives and not give it a second thought. Here is the second thought. EE circumvented the Forest Town Board by upping their project to 41 turbines and thereby coming under state jurisdiction. Even though the majority of communities have county zoning in St. Croix County; EE could circumvent that zoning with a large enough project or by developing a second phase of the Town of Forest project.
Keep in mind that EE does not follow the traditional corn row placement of industrial turbines. The only communities that would be safe from wind farm development are those that have FAA registered airports due to the airspace.
Do not be the exception when it comes to defending the beautiful county in which we live. Support the efforts of the residents of the Town of Forest. The fight that is theirs now will soon be ours.
For more information: info@theforestvoice.org
Scottie Ard
New Richmond
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/03/wind-farm-fight-is-all-of-ours/