July 18, 2017
Iowa

Clay County residents, coalition members host lectures about turbines

By Joseph Hopper, Daily Reporter Staff | The Daily Reporter | Monday, July 17, 2017 | www.spencerdailyreporter.com

Citizens and interested parties from across Clay County attended a lecture which centered around industrial wind turbines Monday night. Terry McGovern was the speaker for the event, and will give the lecture a second time in Emmetsburg at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the VFW Post on Main St. The lecture is entitled: “The trade-offs of wind energy” and was organized by independent citizens of Clay County and by members of the Rural Coalition for Property Rights.

McGovern explained that his lecture’s main purpose was to educate others about industrial wind turbines as well as offering a different perspective to the topic.

“So I look at it through an ethical lens of what’s happening to the state, but also to inform land owners about the trade-offs and things they should consider should they decide to host a turbine,” McGovern said. “I’m mainly focused on what are the draw-backs, because the industry already does a terrific job with highlighting the advantages.”

He continued, “Political, economic, social, and environmental trade-offs is what I focused on tonight, and understanding that the cost and benefits go beyond just money. There’s lots of relevant issues to consider, both that the industry should pay more attention to as well as individuals that are thinking about allowing them to place them on their property.”

McGovern also encouraged citizens to become involved with the political process.

“Should people be more involved with the political process? Absolutely. They should engage with their supervisors. Nonparticipants also have a voice, those that have to live around them that are not hosting them, these are county residents too, their health and well-being matters, and they need to be vocal about that to ensure that their pursuit of happiness is also respected,” McGovern said.

Janna Swanson, board member of the Coalition for Rural Property Rights, explained that bringing the lecture to Clay County was a way to bring more information surrounding wind turbines forward.

“We want more information, we want more input, we don’t just want the wind companies coming in and telling us how everything is going to be,” Swanson said.