December 7, 2017
Indiana, Letters

Warning of risks of industrial wind turbines

Pharos-Tribune | www.pharostribune.com

I live in Tipton County. This letter is regarding suggestions on your setback allowances for industrial wind turbines (IWTs).

Our county was the first to attempt to have the turbines located close to residential homes and communities. I have invested many hours in researching and fighting IWTs in several counties in Indiana. Many counties have changed their setbacks due to health risks.

Whitley County is a half mile from the property line. Noble County has a 3,960-foot setback and a noise limit of 40 decibels at 1,000 feet from a turbine, and requires that a tower’s blinking lights be shielded. Tipton County’s setback is now 2,640 feet from a property line. Many counties have a complete ban on wind farms.

The World Health Organization recommends a minimum setback of 5,280 feet for children, elderly and the chronically ill. Many European nations with more than two decades of experience with wind farms have setbacks of 3-5 miles. If there were no risks, why would they demand stricter ordinances?

Our County Commissioners were initially touting that “everyone was happy in Benton County” with the IWTs. In February 2014, I sent a letter to the Lafayette Journal Courier asking for input from anyone regarding the impact of their turbines. I received numerous replies (some anonymous) and others asking me not to use their name. Many people stated that they hated the noise and the flicker most of all, but had many other complaints.

There were three people in favor of them but after additional research I found that all had IWTs on their property. Here are suggestions on what you should consider regarding this issue.

Research these topics: Shadow flicker; blinking lights; setback distances; low frequency and infrasound impact; decibel requirements; accidents; fires; wildlife impact; health issues; ice throw; wind turbine syndrome; property values; water aquifer damage; wind disturbance issues; lifeline helicopter limitations; bat, golden eagle and bald eagle deaths; China’s toxicity of rare earth metals; decommissioning clauses and aerial crop dusting. I could write many letters to this newspaper to go into more detail of each one of the above listed topics, however, I highly recommend that all leaseholders, county officials and citizens do your own research. I am confident that you will realize that IWTs are not good for your situation.

Nancy Carney, Sharpsville


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/07/warning-of-risks-of-industrial-wind-turbines/