Aren’t 143 wind turbines enough? 

To Holly Stacy and Shayne Thomas,

Over the past few months, you have been presented with the following verified information:

1. The total revenue coming into Seneca County from all sources associated with Republic Wind and Seneca Wind projects combined is less than 45 cents per day per person in the county.

2. You, the commissioners, have full authority over whether a wind turbine project receives a tax break.

3. The history of wind projects in Ohio is that they will not be built without a tax break.

4. You have decided to leave a resolution in place that automatically gives a tax break to any wind project before we even see the plans.

5. You could easily back away from that automatic tax break with a simple resolution by the commissioners.

6. There would be no negative consequences to backing away. You still could give a tax break on a case-by-case basis and receive all associated benefits.

7. Even though the two current projects (Republic Wind and Seneca Wind) have already been given tax breaks, there are land leases being obtained right now by wind companies for even more projects to come into our county.

8. Thirty-year-long studies associated with Ivy League universities from around the world have documented severe health risks with multi-year exposure to infrasounds, which are inaudible, low-frequency pressure waves.

9. Such infrasound pressure waves have been documented to be associated with large wind turbines.

As of this writing neither of you have read or watched the relative information provided to you several weeks ago on the infrasound health issues of wind turbines. It would seem that the safety and well being of Seneca County residents are not high on your priority list. Mr. Thomas, you have stated repeatedly that the heath issues associated with wind turbines are the concern of state agencies and not the county. This, despite Sec 5727.75(E)(1)(b) of the Ohio Revised Code that specifically gives the tax break decision for a wind project to the commissioners and that decision has decided the fate of all wind projects in Ohio. Both you, Mr. Thomas, and you, Mrs. Stacy, have stated that “former” commissioners approved the automatic tax break in 2011 and that you “will not reverse that policy” despite the fact current wind turbines are twice the size of those being built in 2011 and despite the release of documented evidence on the severe negative health effects of infrasound from large wind turbines since then.

There already are 143 wind turbines 600-feet-plus tall scheduled to be built in Seneca County. As the biggest promoters of wind turbines in the county (next to the wind companies), that should make you very happy. Do you not think that is enough for now? Do you not think that is a big enough experiment with the health, safety and well-being of Seneca County residents? On behalf of thousands of concerned citizens, I ask you again to rescind the automatic tax break. Let us learn from the first 143 turbines. Show some respect for the health and well being of county residents whether you think it is your duty to or not. Take the responsibility that state law gives to you and do not try to pass the buck to “former” commissioners. This is now and we have much more knowledge of how imposing these turbines really are, and will accumulate more with the 143 turbines already coming. Whether they turn out for better or worse we will know soon enough. Let’s hold off on building more until we have experience to go on. That is certainly not too much to ask.

Sincerely,

Jim Feasel,

rural Tiffin