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Wind proposal a lousy deal 

Credit:  Voice of the People | The Rochester Sentinel | 17 November 2017 | rochestersentinel.in.newsmemory.com ~~

Dear fellow residents of Fulton County, On Monday, November 20th at 6 p.m. at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, our county Commissioners will host a public hearing and possibly vote on “wind setbacks” proposed to them by the Fulton County Planning Board.

The commissioners have been tirelessly researching and listening to advice and comments from wind developers, concerned citizens and other counties with Industrial Wind Turbine projects. This decision is one that could change the landscape and the culture of our county FOREVER.

While I have only lived in Fulton County for 15 years, my husband’s family has been here for over a century. His parents had four children that have been around the world and back, choosing to build homes on their family’s land and raise their children here as well. This rural farming community is rich in family and farming traditions that have created a peaceful, community minded and strongly intertwined culture. I grew up outside of Chicago, but now reside in a town of roughly 350 individuals. I know more names and families in Fulton County than I ever did in my large hometown.

I say this because the setbacks proposed for approval on Nov.

20th could potentially destroy the culture and lifestyle that so many have enjoyed here for decades.

What have been proposed by our planning board are some of the shortest setbacks in all of Indiana, for some of the tallest turbines in the world. These 600 foot, giant spinning skyscrapers could be placed only 1,200 feet from your home, and 900 feet from your property line.

My husband and I share the dream that one day our children will return home to Fulton County and build homes on our land to continue our family’s century long tradition. These setbacks would rob us of that dream. We would not be able to give land to our children, as building a home closer to the turbines would be unsafe.

There are countless other families in this same situation.

Our commissioners have to consider the rights of every citizen in this county, not just those of individuals that have signed contracts with RES, the wind developer that is proposing to build 133 turbines in Fulton County alone.

If others feel comfortable enough to live closely to a turbine, that is their right. But those citizens, the wind developers, and our elected officials CANNOT ethically force the rest of us to do so.

Consider these facts: RES often uses a model of turbine manufactured by VESTAS, a Dutch company. VESTAS’ safety manual states that the turbine workers should not linger within 1,640 feet of the turbine should something go wrong. There are over 2,000 incidents on record of accidents, many involving injuries or even fatalities. Yet our planning board has proposed to allow RES to place our HOMES and FAMILIES within only 1,200 feet of a turbine?

What if one of these turbines were to catch fire?

Our fire departments are not equipped to fight fires hundreds of feet in the air. The Netherlands, VESTAS home, recommends setbacks equivalent to 4 times the height of a turbine and strict sound limits.

Denmark, one of the strongest wind power nations in the world, has been using Industrial Wind Turbines as a source of clean energy since the 70s. Obviously, this has allowed them many more years to track health and safety issues involving turbines.

After years of practice, their government recommends setbacks of AT LEAST 4 times the height of the turbine for the entire nation. In addition, anyone living within six times the height of a proposed turbine may have their home’s value assessed for loss of value due to the turbine’s proximity, and wind developers are responsible for repaying homeowners anything more than a 1% loss of value. Germany, another experienced wind power nation, has setbacks of 3,280 feet and is currently moving away from wind energy, because their citizens cannot afford to pay their electric bills. (Wind energy is apparently not so affordable). Germans also require sound levels to be at or below 30 decibels in a bedroom near a turbine, yet RES is proposing that 55 decibels is acceptable. France requires a 25 decibel limit within homes.

If our officials are looking at ALL of the research, and not just the research presented to them by wind developers, it will be clear to them that these proposed setbacks are a danger to our community.

Sure, the citizens of Rochester will not be affected, other than the average $25 property tax cut they may see.

But I think it’s safe to say that the good people of Rochester are not willing to accept $25 in exchange for putting their rural neighbors’ lives and homes at risk.

The only argument posed in favor of this project is the financial aspect. While this project may offer a sizable paycheck to our county (with restrictions as to how the money can be used), there are other ways to bring money that will not change the entire landscape and culture of our community. It is an elected official’s responsibility to seek out new industry and opportunities that will benefit our county.

The right opportunity is out there, and it is one that will not put our citizens’ safety, health and personal welfare at risk.

We, the citizens of Fulton County are placing our trust and hope in our elected officials.

They swore an oath to protect the safety, health and welfare of ALL citizens of Fulton County. I pray that they hear our message loud and clear, or we will send another message in the next election.

Fellow citizens, be sure to attend the Public Hearing at the Fulton County Fairgrounds on Monday, November 20th at 6pm to make your voices heard.

Sincerely, A VERY concerned citizen of Fulton County

Source:  Voice of the People | The Rochester Sentinel | 17 November 2017 | rochestersentinel.in.newsmemory.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

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