April 12, 2014
Illinois

Informed farmers coalition to educate farmers on wind turbine projects

By: staff | Amboy News Informed | Posted: Tuesday, Apr 8th, 2014 | www.amboynews.com

WALNUT – The Informed Farmers Coalition (IFC), a group of Lee, Bureau and Whiteside county landowners and citizens, is working to spread awareness about wind turbine project development and the adverse effects it may have on these communities. The group is hoping to raise awareness about the Green River and Walnut Ridge turbine projects owned by Geronimo Energy. Geronimo is currently contacting area farmers to sign new contracts with the company. IFC wants to make sure all area farmers understand the facts concerning wind farm development.

“The Informed Farmers have spent the last three years attempting to educate local citizens on the problems and challenges associated with Wind Turbine Developments. In that time more and more information has become available and the public has become more informed. However, turbine developers continue to mislead the public about problems that continue to exist with wind development. That fact, in addition to a renewed effort to reach new landowners by a subsequent buyer of two local projects, causes us to renew our efforts to make sure the citizens of our local community are informed,” said Kendall Guither, IFC spokesperson.

Many families are speaking up and sharing their personal experience with a wind turbine project near their home. Ted Hartke is a landowner who learned the hard way that the benefits do not outweigh the hardships. He says his entire family has been negatively affected by the turbines on their property.

“I never had any concerns about the wind project being built near my home and had initially thought that the project would be good for my community and my children’s school,” stated Hartke. “But then the turbines turned on and the noise began hurting my wife and kids. Because of wind turbine noise, our entire family suffered major sleep deprivation and then we all began developing health problems. My children struggled at school, and my wife and I began having difficulty with our memory and ability to concentrate and function at work.”

There are both health and financial risks involved in allowing a wind turbine to be built on one’s property. It has been reported that noise and shadow flicker from the turbines can cause sleep deprivation, vertigo, stress and nausea. The financial risks can include the cost associated with decommissioning, damage to a farmer’s land and the increased cost of spraying pesticides.

The IFC urges landowners to contact them to discuss these issues as well as many more associated with these turbines. A concerned farmer should also discuss the pros and cons with their friends and neighbors as well as have an attorney look at any contract before signing.

For more information please contact informedfarmers@yahoo.com or consult the website www.wind-watch.org.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/12/informed-farmers-coalition-to-educate-farmers-on-wind-turbine-projects/