LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Separating wind-farm facts from fiction 

Credit:  Apr 23, 2019 | www.kwch.com ~~

The proposed development of a wind farm in southeast Reno County is a hot-button issue for people who live in the area. Some embrace the idea while others, for a myriad of reasons, fight to keep the plans from coming to fruition.

The public had chances to make its voice heard at recent meetings in Reno County. On April 11, the company planning the wind farm, Next Era, had an hour and a half to rebut the 15-hour public hearing that spanned several days.

Tuesday (April 23) brings another meeting on whether Next Era should be allowed to build a wind farm near Cheney Lake.

Since talks of the proposed wind farm began, we’ve heard many questions and concerns related to property values and impacts on the environment and health.

Among those concerns is the possible impact on wildlife, especially birds.

“We’re seeing a rapid build out of wind turbines and related infrastructure around the country right now,” says Steve Holmer with the American Bird Conservatory.

Holmer spoke with Eyewitness News about the degree of accuracy with the concern that wind farms kill birds.

“We estimate that as many as a million birds a year are dying from collisions with these turbines,” Holmer says. “…There’s associated infrastructure with wind farms and the biggest risk to birds is actually the power lines. An estimated 25 million birds a year die from power lines and there’s another 5 million electrocutions.”

Holmer says the “one million” figure comes from counting dead birds at wind farms. However, many wind-energy companies dispute that finding.

The next concern deals with the noise that wind farms make. Eyewitness News sampled audio from a Kansas wind farm. Our decibel meter showed about the same level as a library, but it does generate noise. And some studies show that low-level noise can make people feel sick, dizzy, or have ringing in their ears. There are peer-reviewed studies with similar findings.

Another concern is “ice throw,” the theory that ice accumulated on wind turbines in cold weather can sling off, dangerously going great distances. Scientists have studied this and while the concerns aren’t invalid, you shouldn’t have to worry about an ice chunk hurling toward you or your home if you live near a wind farm.

Most ice falls directly below the turbine itself and studies show, only about five percent made it as far as 260 feet. However, ice throw does happen.

In recent meetings, perhaps the most widespread concern is whether living near a wind farm will lower your property value. Realtor Stephanie McCurdy says property value is subjective and through her research, living near a wind farm does not guarantee the value of a property will decrease. It just depends on the buyer.

“…If you want to look out your window and look at a wind turbine, than that’s your prerogative,” she says. “If you don’t want to live next to a cell tower, than you don’t purchase in that area.”

In its presentation on April 11, Next Era said wind farms do not affect health and it will not build a turbine less than 2,000 feet away from nearby homes while the ordinance only requires 1,000 feet.

Some Reno County residents who attended the April 11 meeting in opposition to the proposed wind farm say they listened closely to the rebuttal, but they haven’t changed their minds.

Source:  Apr 23, 2019 | www.kwch.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.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon