August 23, 2014
Letters, South Dakota

Concern grows over wind turbine development

Letter: Concern grows over wind turbine development | By Mary Wilson | Argus Leader | August 23, 2014 | www.argusleader.com

My husband and I have been residents of Lincoln County since 1985. In those 29 years, we have enjoyed all of the privileges that accompany a life in this community. A few of these privileges include a peaceful place to raise a family, wonderful neighbors and beautiful landscapes.

Obviously, we are not alone in this sentiment. There is property all around this area that has been in the same families for more than five generations, with a rich history of farming and family-owned businesses.

This farmland and community we enjoy is here because the residents and the officials they elect very carefully have considered the long-term effect of decisions they make. As is always the case, some decisions have the potential to affect not only the current residents, but future residents for years to come. The proposed wind turbine development is precisely that type of decision.

You have had the opportunity to listen to Dakota Power Community Wind regarding all of the alleged benefits of this project. Thankfully, you also have had the opportunity to listen to Dan Schleck, who hopefully helped to educate all of us on the subject from an objective perspective. I appreciate there might be some benefits to this project as seen through the eyes of some, in particular the company that would do the work, but isn’t it crucial that we search for objective information on such an important decision? I would hope all of us, in particular the county board, who has been elected to protect our interests, would be critical of information given to them from a party who stands to gain substantially from this project moving forward. I implore board members to be very deliberate and thoughtful in their examination of this project and to diligently seek out those with expertise and experience in this industry who would not gain financially from persuading the board any particular way.

I respectfully request the elected officials to represent the residents of Lincoln County, not with short-sighted goals based on the subjective information of a wind energy company but with thoughtfulness toward the best long-term interests of our community.