More wind farm research needed
Kokomo Tribune | March 8, 2013 | kokomotribune.com
Hardly a day goes by without an ad in the Kokomo Tribune by juwi talking about all of the benefits they will provide to Tipton County with the Prairie Breeze Wind Farm. They don’t mention Howard County but the turbines will be on Howard Co. 500 South/Tipton Co. 700 North.
Upon closer examination, these wind turbine benefits are like catching gnats in the night sky. The only benefactors seem to be the land lease holders, turbine material(s) pipeline, and the shareowners of juwi. Issues of liability are skirted by the creation of LLCs, trusts, etc. Some farmland lease holders will say that no opposition group has the right to tell them how to use their land. One Russiaville farmer said on a talk show earlier this week that members of the opposition are the same people running around in off-road vehicles tearing up and destroying farm land. I would say for a fact that most members of the opposition consist of doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and business people who have impeccable credentials. Their children are brilliant students who will be the future leaders of our community and country. This Russiaville farmer is probably one of the first in line to take any and all subsidized monies available. That’s our tax money!
I talked to one landowner with a lease who said “don’t blame me; blame Obama.” Earlier this week, I stopped at a gas station in Windfall and talked to a few people. To start the conversation, I’d indicate the turbine were really big. Their responses included words such as “ugly, grotesque, alien, and black eye.” It appeared as if they were still in disbelief the turbines were real. I mentioned I had heard it would cost $5 million to $15 million to dismantle one. They just shook their heads. It is a fact these 500 foot tall turbines that are near subdivisions such as Chippendale in Howard County, villages, and towns will hurt home values as much as 40 percent. Homes closest to the turbines may not even be saleable. Estimated home value loss in just Chippendale is $9 million!
Health issues are becoming more of a concern relating to the low frequency noise and the power grid of electricity. Those with existing heart or hearing issues may incur major medical expenses. Until studies are completed, no further wind farm development should be allowed in Indiana. Regulations at the State level need to be enacted to create sufficient buffer zones to protect the citizens of Indiana and reduce corruption at the county level. The German people were mislead by the Nazi propaganda. Let’s not repeat history by believing the juwi propaganda. Stop the Prairie Breeze Wind Farm project now.
Darrell Pennycoff, Sharpsville
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/09/more-wind-farm-research-needed/