March 8, 2014
Letters, Ohio

Windmills make poor neighbors

The Columbus Dispatch | March 8, 2014 | www.dispatch.com

I respond to Mindy Stoltz’s Feb. 22 letter, “Wind energy could lift Ohio’s economy.”

First of all, wind energy in Ohio or anywhere else is possible only with tax credits and government subsidies.

In general, Ohio is a low-wind area, causing windmills to be built up to 500 feet tall to try to capture what little wind is available. It is also a fact that windmills consume energy when they are not turning, to move the direction of the blades, monitor constantly and heat blades to prevent ice buildup.

Currently, there are plans to build up to 176 windmills in Hardin and Logan counties.

I invite those who don’t know what this is like to drive across Rt. 30 in northwest Ohio in Van Wert and Paulding counties. The landscape no longer is open farmland but just windmills, for miles and miles.

I also invite the curious to talk to some of the residents who are forced to live in the shadow of these monsters. Ask them about ear problems, dizziness, sleep interruptions, daily migraine headaches, flicker shadows, pulsing noise and low frequency vibration.

It has been shown in areas that have these wind farms that property values always go down. The companies who built and profit from wind farms focus on how much money will be made.

For the wind farm in Hardin and Logan counties, they state that eight to 14 permanent jobs will be created. Is it worth it to ruin a way of life for thousands for eight to 14 jobs?

These companies say they are good neighbors and are most concerned with safety. They say the setbacks are according to law, but our lawmakers decided that the required setback of 1,500 feet is to be measured from the foundation of a home, not from the property line, so many homeowners end up surrounded by windmills that they did not want.

Many end up with their properties within the “danger/fallout” zone and now find their property useless.

Does this sound fair? People should think before they support wind farms.

Visit SaveourskylineOhio.com for excellent information and to read about the experiences of people who are forced to live with wind farms. Those who still favor wind farms after educating themselves should contact their government representatives to have one built in their backyard.

Yes, we do need to look toward green energy, but this isn’t the answer for Ohio.

NANCY McCLEES

Russells Point


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/08/windmills-make-poor-neighbors/