April 18, 2015
Letters, North Dakota

Letter: Wind project will harm Stark County

The Dickinson Press | Apr 17, 2015 | www.thedickinsonpress.com

In response to the letter published in Sunday’s paper, the Concerned Citizens of Stark County think it is important to respond to the “facts” about the Dickinson Wind Energy Center.

The Concerned Citizens of Stark County are residents of Taylor, Gladstone and Richardton. We are proud members of these tight-knit communities and have made them our home for generations. We value independence, and the freedom and liberty to exercise our rights, including our property rights. We also believe, however, that as members of our communities, we have an obligation to not interfere with the rights of other community members in an unreasonable way.

While wind energy is a laudable and necessary element of our state’s energy policy, it cannot be developed in such a manner that it destroys the fabric of our communities.

Accepting the thirty pieces of silver offered to develop the proposed wind farm by the Florida energy company will be regretted. Once the heavy transmission lines have been installed and the 87 45-story turbines are marring our rich landscape and vistas, the contribution to the tax base will be minor. The lasting damage to our relationships with neighbors, families, and fellow parishioners for the benefit of another out-of-town opportunist will be lamented.

The use of contrived statistics, misleading statements about the actual amount of property impacted by the megawatt turbines and allegations of minimal wildlife and environmental harm must be further examined and revealed. There must be alternatives to accommodate the interests of all people in our community.

The projected cost savings that Next Era Energy Resources will realize through locating the turbines in our communities should not outweigh the negative impacts this proposed wind farm will have for generations to come.

David J. Wanner,

Dickinson

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/18/letter-wind-project-will-harm-stark-county/