10/7/11 Check out the draft report of responses to submitted questions by the Michigan Alliance for Economic Success: Understanding Wind Initiative
Please leave us your thoughts on Big Wind in Benzie County.
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I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks!
Defintely oppose. The only winner in this, is Duke Energy and on a smaller scale, the larger landowners. The rest of us have to pay for their profits.
My family is definitely opposed to this irresponsible plan by Duke Energy…! No one wins except Duke Energy! There are several BIG RED FLAGS that all property owners should take note of:
If you sign a lease with Duke you forfeit your rights as a property owner but retain the liability. You lose the right to go to court about it. You cannot even plant a tree without Duke’s permission. They have the right to do or build whatever they choose on your property. You forfeit the right to discuss your lease with anyone (this alone should raise suspiscions). Duke has already been dishonest about where the 500 ft. high turbines will be placed. They met in secret with the large landowners prior to disclosure of their plan to the public to get their foot in the door. They only care about making their shareholders happy. They don’t live here. Duke has no qualms about (exploiting) our coastline, our property, our lifestyles, our community and our children’s and grandchildren’s future. Just so you know – their longterm plan includes (exploiting) the entire coastline of upper Michigan. Do your research – real research – Make informed decisions. Their presence automatically lowers property values and chases vacationers away. Duke will say whatever they think we want to hear so they meet their goal. They ought to be kicked out of this state permanently.
Hear Hear to Beth Hoffman. I hereby 100% back up every word she says in this feedback.
We are completely in agreement with Ms. Hoffman’s statements and sentiments. While we are not opposed to wind power, we are opposed to the manner in which this is being brought about. There is only one winner in this issue and it is NOT the individual property owners. I was appalled at the tactics used by Duke to entice my wife and I to sign one of their leases. In my time on earth I’ve learned that if somebody has to TELL me what a good thing it is they’re trying to sell me, it usually isn’t, as is the case here. If the state is in favor of this initiative, let them designate unusable state land (most of Lansing would qualify). I’m sure there are acres upon acres of such space that carries no value with regard to recreational or industrial purpose that would meet the requirements of Duke. This is another issue where State government is blind and uncaring as to the overall wishes of the people of Michigan.
Did you know that according to figures given at a recent meeting, Duke Energy stated it had 275 landowners and residents that have signed leases. This means that OUT OF 2,594 LANDHOLDERS in our four townships of Blaine, Arcadia, Pleasanton and Joyfield, 2,319 LANDHOLDERS HAVE NOT SIGNED LEASES? That means 89.4% of landholders are NOT IN FAVOR of this project. Please don’t sit back and let everyone else voice your concerns. Please speak up and be heard. This IS NOT the right place for an industrial wind generating facility. We DO NOT WANT Benzie and Manistee Counties to become industrialized. We do not want to help this or any other large corporation make huge profits on our backs.
It is unconscionable that the Joyfield Twp board would allow an industrial complex of this size to come into our community, affecting the lives of our residents, without a mandate from the community. Shame on you!
The turbines and overland transmission wires will completely alter Benzie County and it will no longer be a place I want to live. Initially, my response to the turbines was a concern about my own property value. But as this unfolds it is more a quality of life issue and this area is just too unique to destroy with noise and visual pollution, so that a very few can make some rather nice money.
My hats off to ms. hoffman.She should run for president.I would have to add that Im sure the thousands of tourists who frequent this area,and quite frankly,support this area,would not be so quick to return to see an industrialized eye sore.This just can’t happen.
I am opposed to Duke Energy (or any other wind company) installing an industrial wind farm ANYWHERE in Benzie County (or Manistee County for that matter). Many of us have retired to Benzie County for the beauty, the peace and quiet, and for what this area has to offer recreation wise. Our quality of life will be shattered. The thing that upsets me the most about this project is that it really has nothing to do with “being Green” and EVERYTHING to do with “making green.” It is all about the almighty dollar. Wind energy is not as “pure” as their signs proclaim! Wind energy is ineffecient and only produces energy about 30% of the time. Also, many people think that the electricty that these turbines will produce will stay right here in Benzie County. That is simply not true. The electricity will be sent (via huge transmission lines) to the highest bidder (another utility company) and will go to Ohio, or Illinois, or Indiana! I agree wholeheartedly with Beth, Norma, Mary, Abby, Paul, Robert and Brendan. This issue has already brought great division in our community and has pitted neighbor against neighbor. When all of these folks signed leases with Duke, they were sworn to secrecy. The whole issue just makes me sick. We live in such a beautiful area, but it could be ruined forever. All for what? For money. Very sad.
My wife & I purchased property in Pleasanton and are in the process of building our “retirement” home. We bought in this location for the shear scenic beauty of the Lakes, Rolling Hills, Hardwoods, Pines, Farmlands, Beaches, Recreation, & small town community life. Commercial wind would destroy the value that we associate with this area…..I agree with all the posts that oppose Dukes plan…..
If Abby Beale is right….and I believe she is….nearly 90% of the residents may oppose the 112 50 story wind turbines proposed by Duke Energy. It is my hope that this majority will be heard and Commercial Wind eliminated as a possible “industrial” use for the land that is so beautiful and enjoyed by all that live & visit here.
PS: Had turbines been in operation prior to our purchase, we would have avoided the area completely!
Duke Energy’s Gail Wind Project as proposed is a really bad idea for most people in Benzie and Manistee Counties. For those like me who are not under lease there is no upside to this industrial scale windfarm and plenty of potential downside. From a purely selfish standpoint the very best I could hope for is it would have no impact – that I will not hear the turbines and after some time passes they would become as ubiquitous as utility poles. But I don’t think this would happen. If the siting map going around is accurate my house would have eleven of these things within a mile radius, in all directions. Maybe I could live with one or two, but eleven? The model of wind turbine proposed would tower over the tallest trees and be the dominant feature of the landscape. This would be hard to ignore. A recent trip to the windfarm near Cadillac confirmed for me that they are obnoxiously loud. Bye bye natural paradise, so long peace and quiet! Because wind turbines are noisy and to most people ugly it is obvious to me there would be severe downward pressure on property values since practically no one would choose to buy a house under or near one, so my home would become just about unsellable. Think the real estate market is bad now? The long term effects of wind turbines on human health, birds and bats are unknown … if you look hard enough you can find ‘facts’ that support whatever your position on this issue happens to be. A windfarm may have no effect on tourism, but on the other hand I have never heard of anyone taking a vacation to see one. If this project goes through Duke Energy stockholders will get rich at the expense of our community, U.S. taxpayers, and as a consequence of the destruction of this pristine place. Leaseholders will be paid relative peanuts. Gains from tax revenue from this project will be offset by losses in property tax revenue. Regardless of what Duke’s representatives say it does not care about anyone or anything, except making as much money as possible any way it can. I do empathize with the financial plight of local farmers but don’t see how signing away control over the family farm to Duke will help keep it in the family. There is no guarantee that jobs created by this project will be filled by local residents. Even though windfarms do not result in any coal-fired power plants coming off line, they are clean and green and a step in the right direction that our society needs to go toward producing sustainable energy. However, if this one goes forward it needs to happen in a way that benefits the most people possible and not just a select few, through zoning restrictions. If they go up the turbines need to be placed on sites that impact only the leaseholders and not their neighbors, or where people do not live – out of sight, out of mind to all except those who support the project. If this cannot happen, I am 100% against it.
Until the siting is properly regulated and corporations are actually taxed for privatizing profit and socializing impact, industrial wind power must not be imposed upon a community. I cannot support the imposition of industrial wind generation upon Benzie County and Joyfield Township, when Duke Energy, by law is only responsible to their shareholders and CEO salaries and not the people of Michigan.
First, the impacts of industrial wind power needs to be treated as pollution:
Besides the polluting impacts of industrial wind power, siting them onshore when offshore siting in public waters is available is particularly ignorant. Offshore siting does not impose an industrial generation facility upon a populated community and also provides more unidirectional boundary airflow than afforded on land.
Also, corporations, like Duke Energy, are mandated not to consider anything but the well being of their shareholders, not the people in the communities within which they operate. Duke is not a model corporate citizen with regards to pollution, regulatory ethics, or taxation. Until there is demonstrable ability of impacted property owners to be made whole by objectionable impact of industrial siting, then we must not allow companies to socialize risk and privatize profit. If demanded by non-participating landowners, industrial windpower corporations must be compelled to purchase the property at the cost of equivalent property outside of the project.
Only with the proper protections in place could I even consider industrial wind power in Benzie County.
The setbacks are not near great enough. Duke Energy is wanting to pollute our countryside for greed rather than a true benefit to our community or our environment. They have falsely given a perspective of industrial turbines being smaller in scale than truly realized. The vision dotting our landscape will be visual pollution; not to mention the harm done to eagles, other raptors and winged animals. Once this door is opened, if halfway through, the realization comes to those who are ‘for’ this project that it’s not what they initially invisioned and want to stop further installation, there is no going back, no stopping Duke because the leases and contracts will be signed sealed and all t’s crossed. I encourage everyone who would like a true perspective on this project to visit the following websites:
http://arcadiawindstudygroup.org/
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/
http://lifewithdekalbturbines.blogspot.com/
100% in agreement with all comments. Do not let enourmous wind turbines destroy nature’s beauty, threaten wildlife, or cause potential health problems
to residents or visitors in Benzie or Mainstee county.
Creating electric energy from wind turbines is definately a good thing. Creating a hugh industrial complex in order to sell power to other areas is not. It has always been true, to find the real motivation just follow the money. Whether it’s Duke, or any other, they are driven exclusively by profit and have little if any concern for our people or our way of life. Our elected officials have an obligation to just say NO.
We need to realize this whole wind program is based on government subsidies. These can be taken away at any time. Does anyone think Duke [or the next shell corporation which buys the windmills] will maintain them when they’re no longer profitable? What happens then??
This whole scam is a very BAD idea.
Michigan is just one of many states being fleeced by so-called Renewable Energy Standards. Michigan’s RES has only been in place for a little over two years but we are already paying the rate increases (as of 2010 about $314 Million in rate increases were approved for CMS Energy and DTE alone). Infrastructure upgrades to support the variable and unreliable output from wind energy will cost BILLIONS more. The money needed to meet the goal of 20% renewable energy by 2030 could solve a host of real world problems that matter to citizens in Michigan and elsewhere. Enough money in fact, to solve Michigan’s current annual budget deficit beyond 2030. Instead, the money is being sqandered to benefit the select few corporate interests who lobbied for it through the AWEA and other groups. Wind energy throughout the country is crony capitalism at its worst. It’s time to let all of our elected representatives know that supporting bad ideas like the RES will prevent them from being re-elected. This includes local supporters of wind energy on township boards!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to this pressing issue of wind power. If wind power was such a reliable source of energy, why wouldn’t the majority of Benzie and Manistee county residents have their own community sized turbines? Duke has deceived the majority of the people who have signed leases, however, the leasee will confront my husband and I and call us stupid because we don’t want “green energy”! We are all for green energy, however, we will not be bullied into an industrial wind farm that destroys our quality of life. I talked to Duke Energy representative at one time and he said they picked Benzie and Manistee Counties because we were a “deprived region” and the wind farm would benefit our area. WE live in MI, Duke doesn’t! And, to top it all off, the power that Duke generates from these turbines, will not benefit Benzie or Manistee county – it will be sold to Detroit and on to OHIO!! When the majority of the landowners that do not want these turbines (89%), attend more township meetings, express their genuine concerns for the environment and stand up for the community, Duke will be sent packing! Duke is not for the people of Benzie or Manistee counties, as well as MI – remember that when Duke knocks on your door! Leasee Beware!
We live right in the middle of the proposed wind field. I live there because it is quiet, natural, peaceful and God’s glorious beauty surrounds me. I hear geese fly over head, sandhill cranes in the neighboring fields, deer and wild turkey walk up my drive; wild flower grow in profusion. The beauty is breathtaking, the calm is healing and the scenery is praise worthy. Why would anyone want to destroy that for the ALMIGHTY dollar?
Love thy neighbor as thyself – save the wonder that this area is and KEEP DUKE or any other company OUT!!
Mary Deur, Pleasanton Township in Gods Country, USA
I support the wind farm project. As a property owner in Benzie County I welcome the idea of being a participant in offering an alternative to polluting coal electric power generating plants. We need to embrace new technology since I doubt any of us really wants to give up electricity. The parochial “not in my backyard” mentality is selfish and shortsighted. I, personally, want my grandkids to experience the pristine Benzie County I know and love and I think not addressing our energy needs will do more harm to the environment than placing wind turbines in our area.
I want to echo Diane’s comments and add that’s it’s truly a shame that such narrow mindedness in some people has sparked such controversy and division amongst friends and neighbors. Such division is bound to happen, however, anytime money is involved and money issues, be it some may be making some, or some may losing some, have been the downfall of many many relationships. Plainly and simply some people will benefit from this project, some will not. Since when has life ever been fair?? I was warned a LONG time ago by a man who I didn’t pay too much attention to at that time, but wish he was here for his wisdom now. He’s always said, “Life isn’t fair, better get used to it.” That little piece of past advice still seems to apply today. If a person wants to, they can twist every little tiny piece of good or bad information around to make it sound just the way they need, to bolster their argument. That’s not fair, is it, but it’s happening. You know what the biggest complaint I’ve heard to date?? “Oh, I just don’t wanna look at those things.” Huh?? Ok, they are entitled to their opinion, but what about the REST OF THE STORY?? That’s pretty narrow-minded if you ask me. This land is my asset, and it needs to be productive to be kept intact and managed as it currently is. What private individual has the right to tell me how to manage this property, or assumes a right to the view they have over the land I pay taxes on?? Benzie county isn’t the place for this wind farm, people say. Well, this is where the wind is. Would you expect a fisherman to fish where the fish are, or where someone tells him he has to fish?? Wind energy is clean energy. New technology=new breakthroughs every day, which equals improved efficiency, improved overall quality. Benzie county will not be destroyed by this project, nor will it die. Some will leave and may never come back, but that will make room for others who’ve decided this is still a great remote area to live in.
Anybody who used electricity cannot truthfully claim that a local windfarm would provide no benefit to local residents. Any renewable (wind, wood, solar, et al.) displaces a bit of fossil fuel consumption, reducing carbon (and other) emissions, therefore benefitting everyone. Reducing energy demand is an even more useful idea, but that’s another story. Making money producing power, or anything else, is not an evil enterprise. Revenue-generating entities are good for economies, both local and larger. More valid arguments against wind power might include “too much” money in one pocket (if those data are available), changes in visual quality, increased noise, and wildlife impacts (especially birds and bats). As far as negative impacts in “God’s country”, urban splatter and retirement homes are likely the most serious threat to forests and wildlands. So, maybe these immigrant folks who have bought their little piece of Eden, at the expense of wildlands and incremental loss of wild character, are a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.
Well, contrary to most of the non wind comments left on this site, I DO live smack dab in the midst of all these proposed turbines. I am a 5th generation LOCAL, not of farmers but of hard working individuals who have lived in Benzie County for 100+ years and have seen all kind of changes. First of all, Mrs. Beal, the reason 2319 landholders have not signed with Duke Energy has nothing to do with them being opposed to the project. My husband and I have not signed, we have 40 acres, LOVE the proposed wind project but do not have appropriate land for a turbine. I would think there are many more like us. Reading through this site, I have to admit, I do not recognize many names. Wow, could this be just what the farmers and others who have signed up with Duke are talking about? That the mass of retirees or almost retired who have graced Benzie County with their presence feel that THEY should make the rules, tell others how to use their land? Then please, let’s not stop here. Let’s go after the builder/contractor who leaves his backhoes and other big equipment parked in my view; I find these diesel guzzling, stinky pieces of equipment an eye sore when I drive around Herring Lake. And to the people who would chose such a gaudy red color for their metal roof or the old couple who painted their house pink, PLEASE! Talk about an eyesore…. See what I mean? This battle ok in the eyes of those who choose to fight it, but where do we stop. You stand for all that is wrong in our country, the elite few who think they know best. You need to think about it.
To be blunt people that are against Wind Energy must be stupid, ignorant (not knowing) or completely brain washed by Nut Job Politicians and Talking-Heads. Wind Energy and other forms of clean renewable sources such as Solar and Bio Fuels should be part of America future for Energy and National Security. Why should we buying oil from Countries that hate us? Why not harness free sources of energy like the wind and sun to generate income for our communities. In Michigan most of the tax revenue (approximately 80%) will stay in the Counties/Townships that the Wind Energy is being produced with most it going to the townships. With that type of tax revenue our Public Schools could get the help they sorely need and other improvements such as road projects. Think of the money that will funnel in to our communities indirectly by the construction workers that will build the Wind Projects, they will need somewhere to eat, sleep, shop, etc. Once the wind projects are up and running the landowners will have more money to spend locally too. Even if you do not get a wind turbine on your property you will economically benefit. When you say not to wind energy, you are saying no to all the goods that will be created directly or indirectly. I also think that the Wind Turbines are nice to look at, I wish I had one on my property. A landowner from McBain told me on issue about tourism which is important to our area as well, that he lives less then a mile from the Turbines and he is constantly seeing people pulled over on the side of the road snapping pictures of the engineer marvels. So people that attracted by the turbines will be drawn to Manistee and Benzie Counties and they will be bring their money with them.
Just heard the news! Can’t think of a better birthday present than to learn that the future of our land is a little brighter with the departure of Duke Energy. My faith in community involvement and hard work for a cause has been renewed along with a new appreciation for what the almighty dollar could have done to our region! I would like to think that opposition by a majority of citizens to this industrialization was the reason for Duke’s leaving but I’m fairly certain that the expiration of the Section 1603 Federal tax incentive was the final nail in the North Carolina pine coffin. We need to keep watch against future projects that may try to fill the void left by Duke…our windy paradise hasn’t changed! When it comes down to it, WE are the true stewards of this land.
let me tell you folks of my experience..i have my main residence downstate in st louis, and they have littered the landscape with wind turbines..at first, when they started assembling them, it was interesting,kinda cool….and then they started moving….i had no idea they made so much noise.
they sound like an airliner going overhead, and you get that sound in stereo when you have them surrounding you….you see, they put 133 up here, with another 144 going in,and plans for more. they have taken over the county and we’ll probably sell our home of 30 yrs to get away from the constant noise. i can see 43 turbines out my front window to the east, 5 to the north, about 23 to the south and 8 to the west….the lights on top all flash at the same time, and that’s very annoying at night……my home on benzie hwy is where we may move permanent and if these turbines go up, that home will sell also. i’m not against wind power,but for crying out loud put the turbines AT LEAST one and a half miles from any residence.
just my 2 cents…
please read.
http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2012/01/19/news/doc4f1730274cf09448994350.txt
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/05/gratiot-looking-at-less-wind-turbine-taxes/
all the power generated here is going to detroit…..the turbines cost app. 3.75 MILLION dollars each,with half being funded by taxpayer dollars.
there is no return on this forced investment and after these turbines are depreciated , the tax paid to the county will be very low.
check your contract folks, is there a clause that says you only get paid while the turbine is in operation ? because once there’s no benefit of tax breaks to the energy company,they have the right to let the turbine sit there and rot on your property.
My husband just returned from a business trip to Denmark, where the proposed wind turbines are made. Denmark is now going through a lot of trouble and expense to move their wind turbines FAR AWAY from any residential areas, due to their negative impact on quality of life. We also lived in a community that was torn apart by the construction of ONE wind turbine that was much smaller than those proposed by Duke, but which caused misery to those who lived near it. I will support wind power in Benzie County if and when there is appropriate regulation, but hope that offshore sites will become a viable alternative. Those well-intentioned folks who signed leases may not realize that the nice friendly people who convinced them to sign with promises of big money, benefits to the environment and community, and little negative impact need to realize that the decisions made down the line will be made by powerful executives far away, who have little regard or care for landowners, and who are interested only in serving their shareholders. If the company decides that their profit margin is too small to pay both their shareholders and the lease holders, the lease holders will NOT be paid, and there is no way they will ever be able to afford the cost of going to court to fight against the teams of high-powered law firms that work for big energy companies. and who built clever loopholes into those leases.
The comment about turbines sitting and rotting on property is simply not a true. If you were to read a wind lease, or even the wind lease that landowners in this area signed, the are several paragraphs describing the removal, when removal will happen and also there is a section dedicated to setting money aside to pay for removal. Do people honestly believe that landowners who agreed to be a part of the project would not have concerns such as turbines being left to “rot”, and would have addressed that concern before they signed a lease. Be real. Not that it matters at this moment, but just because Duke Energy has left the area, does not mean there will never be a wind project here.
Again, it’s being suggested that lease holders were duped, and coaxed with the promise of “big money”. How is continuing to point fingers at lease holders and telling them they were foolish, and gullible for signing a lease, going to heal the wounds of the community. It will not?? How will constantly hinting that land owners got greedy and it’s all about money, be helpful? The only people I’ve read about or heard talk about how much money some people were going to make, came those who refused to sign a lease. If you continue to back people in a corner and accuse them of trying to destroy the area, ruin the view because they were selfishly looking to earn money by signing a lease, which is legal, they are going to continue to be on the defensive, and no agreements will ever be reached.
One more thing…. do not assume that since Duke Energy is gone, that things have calmed down much. Those who fought hard against the wind project did and said many things during that time, that they would like people to forget about now.
Does “appropriate regulation” mean regulations so strict that a wind project would not be able to comply? That’s what I’ve heard from most people against wind. Regulate it right out of the area. Several townships are working toward that very goal right now, stepping on the property rights of those who would like to bring clean, renewable wind energy to a very wind-rich part of Michigan. There is NO bargaining, no give and take, just NO. I think that’s some people in Joyfield township are so aggressive to get zoning, so they can reinforce their ‘not in my back yard’ stand.
There are many benefits to wind energy, and wind energy is becoming more competitive with other sources of energy.
http://bnef.com/PressReleases/view/172
Just for the record…I am a long time supporter of wind energy. It’s my belief that with forsight and planning, large scale windpower is viable in our area.
if you’re ever watched the turbine company erect one one these turbines(i have, many, many times) you would wonder that if they decided to dismantle the turbines, how will they remove the “base hub” that attaches to the bottom of the column, out of the ground ? it is set in 525 yards of concrete. plus there’s four arm sized cables that run across the property.
i was told that Duke may be gone, and that another company that’s in good standing with Consumers Energy will be trying to install their turbines in Benzie county. should they succeed, i shall sell my house on benzie highway and find another peaceful area where i can spend my retirement.
after all, i get to see/hear 144 of those things down here in st louis MI……..for those of you who endore these turbines, i invite you to come down here and stop along side the road and listen to these things…it’s only a couple hour ride, it may be the smartest drive you ever took.
Bob
not true ? i have never gained anything by not telling the truth……please click on the link below and you’ll see numerous turbines sitting, in disrepair….and yes, rotting. it would be cost prohibitive for a turbine company to dismantle the turbine and remove over 500 yards of concrete.
i too believe in wind power…..only .in UNPOPULATED AREAS.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/03/19/the-reality-of-wind-turbines-in-california-video/
and if anyone would like to replicate the sound of a wind turbine, wait for a low flying airliner to go overhead and then swing a small, thin tree branch at the same time…and magnify it a 100 times.
if you’re unlucky enough to live in the shadow of one of these things, you’ll get to enjoy the shadow of the blades going across your house and through the windows creating a “strobe” affect…..and at night, if you have a view of very many turbines, you’ll get to see the nightly light show where all the lights on top of the turbine blink….ALL AT THE SAME TIME, which is very distracting and does have health effects for people prone to seizures. i know this sounds like another “not in my back yard” story, but i’m merely pointing out FACTS….because out of everyone in benzie county, i’m probably the only one who really knows what happens when the turbines are installed because i DO have them in my back yard, and front, and side yards too……11 turbines within ONE square mile !!!
and i was one of the people who couldn’t wait for them to install them here…..with no benefit what so ever, i endorsed the wind power here…..until it was too late to realize that it is indeed an urban blight and a noisy nuisance . all this isn’t worth fighting and losing friends over…the power company benefits, the turbine company benefits,and the landowner ends up losing friends and being called greedy…..in the end, your electric bill will NOT go down, the cheap energy will only help the bottom line of Consumers Energy….so i ask you, is this all worth it to help a company that operates the way Consumers does ?
As a persom from Gratiot County and having 15 turbines within shouting distance of my (formally) rural home, and another 100 in view, believe me you NEVER want these things in Benzie or Manistee. Why?
1.The constant, constand wrrrrrrrrrrr will drive you nuts.
2. The red flashing lights. In Gratiot flat land, however bland and ugly, we did have the mose amazing night skies. They are now gone forever, replaced with these incessant flashing red lights everywhere. They flash into the bedroom, kitchen, living room.
3. Flicker. Yep, it happens, and it will literally make you disoriented. I had to put crutains over my shop windows.
4. Sunrises and sunsets. Again, were glorious in our flat open country. Now gone forever.
5. Land owners. Not getting what they were promised and literally lied to. No defense against the corporate lawyers. The $$ promised never came.
6. Boom/bust. The construction was a boom to Breckenridge business’. So much so in fact that local business people borrowed, spent, and some generally got in above their heads thinking it would last forever. Now some are closed or broke. The boom is gone as fast as it came.
and town is more broken than before the turbines.
7. Promised permanant jobs. Breckenridge was promised 25-30 permanant jobs. What a lie. To date, one, yes ONE local resident was hired. The other 4 are transient contract workers–they come and go every 3 years.
8. Destroyed homes. Many folks rented to contractors at an amazingly high rental rate, taking away the ability of local permanant young people to settle or stay in the area. These contractors destroyed homes, left town owing thousands to locals.
9. The bars were full on weekends. Good thing? maybe but, Fights broke out, marriges broken, bar fixtures damaged, the local Barney Fife was overwhelmed.
10. Roads. Most completely destroyed and no money in the county to repair them. They are to this day in shambles.
11. Gratiot is flat and open. Benzie is hilly and wooded. I estimate it would take out 2000+ acres of trees in Benzie just to get these behemoths to their permanant location. Hilltops will be flattened. Erosion and runoff will clog the Benzie streams and rivers. It takes about 17 acres cleared just to turn the corner bringing the parts to location. Average 6-8 corners for each turbine ( 7 acres x 136 turbines= 952 acres JUST on road corners)
12. Wires, wires, wires everywhere. Huge transmission wires and plles, everywhere!
13. Farmers promised access across and on driveways back to the windmills: NOT! Imagine farming 80 acres and you have to drive your tractor around the section just to get to the other side. Well it’s a reality now. Imagine what a pain at harvest.
14. School system promised the world, and have been left short on the promise, very short.
15. The pastural rural setting is destroyed forever. In my township (Population 425), it is now an industrialized mess. All for a few lousy megawatts of power.
16. Cost ($$) to us- we taxpayers paid for 80% of the construction via corporate welfare, and now our rates are climbing to pay the costs. An average coal-fired plant would have to run about 2 days to equal what the actual power generated by this wind farm annually. Talk about a waste of resources.
17. I sold my home (at a huge loss) and moved to manistee County. Please hear me on this. They do not belong here. And I am a liberal environmentalist. Windmills are not the answer. I don’t know what for sure is, but I do know these things are not.
18. Lastly, my dear and close friend farms land now in it’s 5th generation. He signed up, was all for it. Now he is heartbroken, seeked counsuling over his decision. These huge industrial whirilly gigs ruined his land, never to be the same again, nor will he ever be.
Mark.
So, if you were to set up an ordinance to regulate this sort of enterprise how would you word it in order to avoid these pitfalls?