February 5, 2014
Indiana, Letters

Turbines will trample rural quality of life

Kokomo Tribune | February 5, 2014 | www.kokomotribune.com

The Sunday article about Indian Heights commented on providing a better quality of life for the residents of the Heights. That is commendable when officials see quality of life as a priority for residents.

We in rural eastern Howard County have a good quality of life. We enjoy our lives and homes out here, no complaints. Yet our county government is desiring and has decreed the construction of an industrial wind complex to be built around us. This’ll take away our quality of life. County officials not only do not care what happens to us and our lives, they have made it clear such aren’t important to their interest.

The Economic Revitalization Agreement signed by our county officials to bring this industrial complex, slated to begin construction Sept. 21, 2014, states these complexes are for areas of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment and poverty doesn’t describe our area! Both are very rare in rural Howard County.

We have no cable here, but these services are well-provided, readily available to us by means of wireless Internet and TV. However, these will no longer be available in the midst of an industrial wind complex. We also won’t have access to LifeLine helicopters. We’ll lose value in our properties and won’t be able to expand, as setbacks for the turbines lock in any future building of homes or businesses. Yet no one cares. Officials pooh-pooh safety, health and noise issues with turbines, but they’re very real and will greatly hamper a prosperous life for thousands of us.

To reject reality, deny proven facts, and put nearly 2,000 people in danger, our health, safety, property, as well as denying us Internet, TV, all against our will and consent, should be unthinkable. But it’s not. To deny quality of life to thousands of residents of Howard County, can there be any winners?

Leelia Cornell

Greentown

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/05/turbines-will-trample-rural-quality-of-life/