Money doesn’t always win
The Huron Daily Tribune | Saturday, June 10, 2017 | www.michigansthumb.com
If there’s a lesson that can be gleaned from the May 2 wind energy referendums in Huron County, it’s that he who has the most doesn’t necessarily always become the victor.
Not that the odds aren’t stacked in the wealthy’s favor. But when it comes the will of the people, money doesn’t always win.
Campaign finance records that were released this week show that while wind development was defeated by a near 2-to-1 margin, pro-wind interests were funded over 200 times more than anti-wind development interests.
Five pro-wind farm committees raised at least $875,559 (including in-kind funds), according to campaign records at the Huron County Clerk’s Office. The single anti-wind farm committee, Huron County Wind Resistance, raised $3,715.
The bottom line appears to be the fact that the majority of Huron County voters feel the area has become saturated with wind turbines. Many are thankful for the benefits from wind energy development, but they don’t want to see any more wind turbines.
Whether voters will stick to their guns in any future wind energy referendums remains to be seen. But what’s clear now is that money doesn’t always win.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/06/10/money-doesnt-always-win/