An ill wind blows 

As a resident of Eddy County, I have some concerns on the new wind farm being planned. I was told by a PRC Wind (project manager of the wind farm) representative that it has gotten larger. Are you sure you will not be surrounded with these towers? What about phase 2 or 3?

This wind farm will not only change the view of the landscape, what will happen to ur property values and taxes? Will our property resale values go down? Granted, area schools and towns might benefit from some extra tax revenue; but will county residents be taxed off of their property? The proposed tax dollars are coming from somewhere.

I googled the amount of concrete and steel each tower footing requires. Depending on size, big towers require around 500 cubic yards of concrete. That’s 60 8-yard trucks times two for a round trip, and now multiply that by the first 90 towers. Will this added volume of traffic be coming down your road? Will these new workers slow down for kids and grandkids, pets, traffic, farm animals? Will the spray to keep the dust down? Can we have the speed reduced in front of county residents that are close to the road?

I was given a paper from PRC Wind dealing with the health effects of wind farms. I was entertained to see they have a new phrase, “nocebo effect”: “Studies have found that a ‘nocebo effect‘ can take place, opposite of the well-known ‘placebo’ effect. The nocebo effect describes a situation in which individuals who are led to expect physical symptoms may actually experience these symptoms, whether or not the supposed cause of the symptoms is actually present. In this case, increased exposure to misinformation about wind …” I stopped along the road on my way to Wimbledon, amazed by farmsteads surrounded by towers. I estimated the 1,400 foot zoning ordinance, the distance required to be offset from a dwelling now in effect for Eddy County and listened. I can’t fathom trying to sleep with my windows open on a warm summer night. Humming that never stops was very audible. Imagine the flashing shadows from the blades on a sunny day in your living room.

I was told by a PRC representative that the noise created by a wind tower cannot be over 100 decibels at a a dwelling. I hope either I misunderstood or he misspoke. According to www.chem.purdue.edu, 100 decibels is like a lawn mower or jackhammer.

The planned wind farm covers over 42,000 acres in two counties. It is surprising that the public is not kept abreast of this project, especially those of us that will be having the “nocebo effect” foisted upon us.

(I will not even mention several years ago when there were thousands and thousands of birds staying on the south section of 23rd and 281.)

If the county zoning offset variance is going to be changed for the approval of a wind farm, why not notify the public and have a discussion, write it up in the paper before the meeting?

This brings me to the April 29, 2024, front page of the Transcript: “County, townships at odds over land use authority.” I, as a rural resident, would like to see my township maintain control of zoning. On March 24, 2017, the wind tower zoning setback was officially changed 1,400 feet “and will further promote wind energy opportunities for Eddy County, N.D.”, per the zoning ordinance. What about representing the county residents’ right to enjoy their property? Money is involved, but that should not be at the expense of a county resident’s property and resale value. Where is the fairness? ls the zoning not to protect all county residents’ well-being?

Why the refusal to have public meetings and explain to us county residents how this wind farm is fair or right for all of us? What’s next, reducing the offset to dwellings even more? County residents should be taken into consideration, not just landowners who probably live nowhere close to the wind farm. Last thing I would want or expect is a wind tower springing up in my backyard without the ability to have my voice heard o over the destruction of mY property value and enjoyment of life.

Many counties in the U.S. are rejecting wind farms: “[O]pposed residents said the project would harm the local economy, reduce property values, affect human health, compromise military readiness, hurt wildlife and lead to the loss of “quiet nights, dark skies and the scenic nature of the region.” [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/02/04/green-energy-nationwide-bans/71841275007/].

All county residents should be demanding to knw where these towers are going to be erected. Once a wind tower is in you back yard, too late. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, says the 2 a.m. nocebo effect.

David Fite
Sheyenne, N.D.

[Notes:  The publisher of the New Rockford Transcript, Amy Wobbema, founded W-E Wind in 2009 when she was economic director for New Rockford, to advance industrial wind energy development in the area, including writing “wind energy–friendly zoning ordinances” for Wells and Eddy Counties. She states, in an editorial published alongside Mr Fite’s letter, that “W-E Wind is made up of local people, landowners and community leaders” but does not name them or provide access to annual reports (link).

[The Eddy County Zoning Ordinance “is designed to protect the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of Eddy County, ND; to secure safety from fire, panic, noxious fumes, and other dangers; and to promote the health, safety and welfare of the people of Eddy County. It is intended that the establishment of this ordinance will promote orderly and non-conflicting uses of land and property, protect property rights, ensure the provisions of adequate public services, and promote conservation of land, water, and other natural resources.”]

The next week, the developer heaps praise on W-E Wind (in W-E Wind’s founder, treasurer, and registered agent’s newspaper):

Doing it right: the Wells & Eddy County Wind Project Initiative

Paul White | May 27, 2024

I’m writing as president of PRC Wind, a pioneering wind energy company that specializes in partnering with communities that want to host wind energy projects. I’m writing to congratulate Wells and Eddy County residents on their amazing progress exploring wind energy over the past 15-plus years. This community had a hunch, and attacked the simple question: “Can a wind energy project benefit their community?” They did the hard work to engage residents and leaders across the area to find answers. Ultimately, the community formed W-E Wind in 2009, a community-based wind energy task force for Wells and Eddy Counties. W-E Wind’s straightforward approach to bringing people together to find common ground is an example we can all learn from.

W-E Wind did it right. The first thing they did was engage local stakeholders to determine whether wind energy was an opportunity that would bring benefits without harm. What they found is not surprising – not only can wind energy fit well from a health and safety perspective, but the economic benefits are immense. A new project would attract investment that would support new jobs and economic development, and an operating wind farm would deliver tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue and land lease payments into the local economy.

I have seen these economic benefits realized in many communities over 30 years. Some memorable examples include: grandparents that could newly afford to retire (and stay) on the farm; a student’s college tuition paid off; an elementary school’s funding approved; fire and rescue equipment upgraded; new local businesses sprouted up; and of course, many jobs created. W-E Wind is right on the money: Wind power is a powerful economic development tool.

The second thing that W-E Wind did right was listen to the community’s desire that wind energy should be developed well, without harm to the community or environment. W-E Wind took this to heart and did their research. They looked into all the information, sorting the facts from the not-facts that circulate in media, and drilled down to base decisions on peer-reviewed hard data. They even took steps to ensure that there would be prudent local ordinances in place to augment the existing state permitting process. North Dakota has a very robust permitting process in which numerous federal and state agencies participate. Now thanks to W-E Wind, the counties also help ensure that quality wind energy projects will be developed.

In 2018, W-E Wind contacted PRC Wind to find out if our development team could help them make their vision of a wind project into reality. I’d never seen stronger community support for a wind project, and after six busy years working together, W-E Wind’s project is closer than ever to being built. Most importantly, the project is close to delivering those big community development results. Over 20 years, the W-E Wind project is projected to pay $42.5 million in lease payments to the local community, and $37.5 million of tax revenue as well (two-thirds of which also goes to the local community). That’s $80 million of revenue straight from the wind! And that’s not to mention the many new jobs and economic development benefits to the area.

I cannot overstate the quality work that the W-E Wind team has done on behalf of their community, balancing the desire for economic development with responsible and prudent process. W-E Wind recognizes that wind energy is an American energy resource, not subject to embargo by foreign nations. In today’s world, we need to build on all that we have here to power our communities. I applaud the Wells and Eddy communities for their tireless effort to help secure America’s future right here at home.

For general fact sheets about wind energy, click this link.

Sincerely,

Paul White
President, PRC Wind
Minneapolis, Minn.