WINDCOWS
WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT
CITIZENS OPPOSING WINDTURBINE SITES
This site was last updated: May 6, 2008
It is admirable to want to save our environment, but we do not have the right to sacrifice health, safety and quality of life to accomplish that goal. We are not fighting the solution to save our environment, we are fighting to be part of a better solution.
HELPING TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ON THE REALITIES OF WIND ENERGY
FEDERAL SUIT FILED TO STOP OGLE WIND FARM
WHAT HAVE I DONE
This compelling message appeared in an advertisement run in the October 25, 2007 issue of the Times-Journal newspaper in Wisconsin. A .pdf copy of the ad can be accessed by clicking on the below link. IWA has authenticated this ad. It was written by Don Bangart of Chilton, Wisconsin following a 2 hour interview with a landowner in Northeast Fond du Lac County. The landowner, who wishes to remain anonymous, approved the text for publication.
Now each morning when I awake, I pray and then ask myself, "What have I done?"
I am involved with the BlueSky/Greenfield wind turbine project in N.E. Fond du Lac County. I am also a successful farmer who cherishes his land. My father taught me how to farm, to be a steward of my fields, and by doing so, produce far better crop production. As I view this year's crops, my eyes feast on a most bountiful supply of corn and soybeans. And then my eyes focus again on the trenches and road scars leading to the turbine foundations. What have I done?
In 2003, the wind energy company made their first contacts with us. A $2000 "incentive" started the process of winning us over, a few of us at a time. The city salesman would throw out their nets, like fishermen trawling for fish. Their incentive "gift" lured some of us in at first. Then the salesmen would leave and let us talk with other farmers. When the corporate salesmen returned, there would be more of us ready to sign up; farmers had heard about the money to be made. Perhaps because we were successful farmers, we were the leaders and their best salesman. What have I done?
Sometime in 2004 or 2005, we signed $4000.00 turbine contracts allowing them to "lease" our land for their needs. Our leases favored the company, but what did we know back then? Nobody knew what we were doing. Nobody realized all the changes that would occur over which we would have no control. How often my friends and I have made that statement! What have I done?
I watched stakes being driven in the fields and men using GPS monitors to place markers here and there. When the cats and graders started tearing 22 foot wide roads into my fields, the physical changes started to impact not only me and my family, but unfortunately, my dear friends and neighbors. Later, a 4 foot deep by 2 foot wide trench started diagonally across my field. A field already divided by their road was now being divided again by the cables running to a substation. It was now making one large field into 4 smaller, irregularly shaped plots. Other turbine hosts also complained about their fields being subdivided or multi cable trenches requiring more lands. Roads were cut in using anywhere from 1000 feet to over a ½ mile of land to connect necessary locations. We soon realized that the company places roads and trenches where they will benefit the company most, not the land owner. One neighbor's access road is right next to some of his out buildings. Another right next to his fence line. What have I done?
At a wind company dinner presented for the farmers hosting the turbines, we were repeatedly told - nicely and indirectly - to stay away from the company work sites once they start. I watch as my friends faces showed the same concern as I had, but none of us spoke out. Months later, when I approached a crew putting in lines where they promised me they definitely would not go, a representative told me I could not be here. He insisted that I leave. The line went in. The company had the right. I had signed the lease. What have I done?
Grumbling started almost immediately after we agreed to a 2% yearly increase on our 30 year lease contracts. Some felt we should have held out for 10%. What farmer would lock in the price of corn over the next 5 years, yet alone lock one in at 2% yearly for 30 years? Then rumors leaked that other farmers had received higher yearly rates, so now contracts varied. The fast talking city sales folk had successfully delivered their plan. Without regard for our land, we were allowing them to come in and spoil it. All of the rocks we labored so hard to pick in our youth were replaced in a few hours by miles of roads packed hard with 10 inches of large breaker rock. Costly tiling we installed to improve drainage had now been cut into pieces by company trenching machines. What have I done?
Each night, a security team rides down our roads checking the foundation sites. They are checking for vandals and thieves. Once, when I had ventured with guests to show them foundation work, security stopped us and asked me, standing on my own property, what I was doing there. What have I done?
Now, at social functions, we can clearly see the huge division this has created among community members. Suddenly, there are strong-sided discussions and heated words between friends and, yes, between relatives about wind turbines. Perhaps this is a greater consequence than the harm caused to my land! Life is short and my friendships precious. What have I done?
I tried, as did some of the other farmers, to get out of our contracts, but we had signed a binding contract and a contract is a contract. If you are considering placing wind turbines on your property, I strongly recommend that you please reconsider. Study the issues. Think of all the harm versus benefits to your land and, in the future, to your children's land by allowing companies to lease your land for turbines.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
PLEASE DO NOT DO WHAT I HAVE DONE!
WINDCOWS are committed to research and provide the most accurate information possible about industrial wind farms proposed for our communities , to educate about the realities of wind energy, and to research alternative renewable energy options for our area. If there is anything you find on our website that is inaccurate, please contact us immediately at info@windcows.com. We will be glad to verify any information and correct any errors.
GOT TURBINE TROUBLES or CONCERNS?
Call 1-888-732-7234!
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The Coalition for Wisconsin Environmental Stewardship (CWESt) is a grass roots organization made up of people concerned about the responsible placement of wind turbines.
CWESt's primary goal is to provide a central source for both gathering and giving out reliable information about industrial wind plant siting, issues relating to the industrial wind turbines and the effects on residents.
CWESt will take your concerns and information to our legislators in Madison.
WINDCOWS applauds CWESt for providing us with this very helpful resource
Wisconsin's Draft Model Wind Ordinance (click here to read ordinance), after years of complaints from Wisconsin's citizens, continues to recommend inadequate setbacks :
1) From an inhabited structure of a distance no less than the greater of 2 times the its total height or 1000ft"
2) Each wind turbine shall be setback from the nearest property line a distance no less than 1.1 times its total height.
3) Each wind turbine shall be setback from the nearest public road a distance no less that 1.1 times its total height.
Yet, a manual of Safety and Regulations for Operators and Technicians for the Vestas V90-3.0MW/V100-2.75MW states:
"Do not stay within a radius of 400m (1300ft) from the turbine unless it is necessary. If you have to inspect an operating turbine from the ground, do not stay under the rotor plane but observe the rotor from the front.
In case of a fire during an uncontrolled operation, do under no circumstances approach the turbine.
Evacuate and rope off the turbine in a radius of minimum 400m (1300ft).
Make sure that children do not stay by or play nearby the turbine.
HOW, can our state legislators justify allowing these unsafe conditions for residents of this state who will have to live in these conditions 24/7, when the manufacturer is telling its own operators and technicians to stay 1300ft away?
Using the 1.1 times the height from a property line, and the 471ft tall turbines proposed for theTwin Creeks Wind Farms, the turbines would be only 518ft from property lines. According to the Vestas Safey Manual, that is taking 782ft of our property (if we have that much) and making it unsafe, even for it's operators and technicians. This should be considered a takings of property rights.
This in fact means, if a turbine is 518ft from a property line, an operator would have to get permission from a neighboring property owner so as to stay outside of the 1300ft safe setback.
If a turbine catches fire, it is quite obvious that your home located only 1000ft from the turbine would have to be evacuated.
This is more proof that using these inadequate setbacks, makes it impossible for any Wisconsin resident that is forced to live next to a wind farm, to be safe in their home or on their property.
The Vestas manual was submitted with the application for the Roxbury/Stamford
project.
The original application for the project contained the entire O & M manual. The application states use of the V90 3MW with a rotor blade length of 44m (147.6ft), placed on 80m (262ft ) towers, for a total height of 410 ft.
At a Roxbury Planning Board meeting (they are the lead agency for this
project) the issue of the safety set-back recommendations for Vestas
workers was brought to the Board's attention. Of course, the developer,
Invenergy, was also present. Neither had any comment that night.
Within a week, that portion of the Application and DEIS (which was on line)
was removed. (Click here to visit site for DEIS). When asked why it was taken off, Invenergy replied that Vestas
requested it as it was proprietary information. Odd, that safety
regulations are proprietary, but very specific technical data is not!
CLICK BELOW TO VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR
We believe it is quite obvious that a 1300-foot setback from neighboring property lines, roads, etc. should be the absolute minimum for personal safety purposes. This setback however, does not adequatley address noise, signal interference, shadow flicker, strobe lighting, etc., all of which warrant longer setbacks from residences and other sensitive receptors from everything we have seen.
Wind Energy Companies continue to tell the world that wind turbines are safe (we were once told that saccharin was safe also) and that opponents of the wind energy industry are fabricaing lies. Well on Friday, it was revealed by ABC News that one of the famous shots of supposed Antarctic ice shelves in Al Gore's film "The Inconvenient Truth", was actually a computer-generated image from the 2004 science fiction blockbuster "The Day After Tomorrow". The story presented by one of ABC's foremost global warming alarmists Sam Champion on "20/20".
CLICK HOUSE TO VISIT BETTER PLAN ROCK COUNTY (BPRC)
A SISTER WEBSITE BASED IN WISCONSIN
LOCATED IN MAGNOLIA TOWNSHIP
