Commentary: County must protect its citizens

Rochelle Nygaard

Goodhue

An open letter to county commissioners:

As you consider the future of Goodhue County in regard to wind farms, let’s review the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Goodhue Wind Project will provide income for about 45 landowners,

2. Income for the county is projected at $400,000,

3. It will give the appearance of following the federal mandate for renewable energy,

4. Jobs during the construction period,

5. A few permanent maintenance jobs for the wind turbines,

6. Money for non-Goodhue county resident investors, and

7) Energy to “somewhere.”

Cons

1. Loss of property values to any property in view of the wind farms.

2. Loss of tax revenue to the county as value is lost.

3. Loss of future building sites (more lost tax dollars).

4. Goodhue County will become undesirable to persons looking to move to rural areas (potential future tax income)

5. Loss of valuable agriculture land as industrial wind turbines require roads and space.

6. During the construction phase, damage to township, county and state roadways.

7. Bird and bat populations will decrease,

8) People really don’t want to live by industrial wind turbines,

9) Utility costs will not be reduced, and believe it or not.

10. carbon emission will go up as coal plants must increase output to be ready to run when the wind refuses to blow (Denmark has increased its carbon emissions by 18 percent.

As you think about the future of Goodhue County, reflect on your children and grandchildren. Someday they will ask, “Who allowed these bird killing, land hogging, inefficient monstrosities to be built in this very beautiful place.” This will be your future legacy.

You can, however, correct this before it is too late. Impose a one-year moratorium on construction to evaluate what is best for Goodhue County. Require an environmental impact study. Use the year to educate yourselves.

Do not give the Public Utilities Commission the power to run our county. Wwe live here, as opposed to PUC members, wind developers, Tim Pawlenty, and the big investors.

We need to protect our land and water from federal mandates. Are we responsible for providing electricity to densely populated cities? Are our schools and children going to benefit from this project?

Goodhue County is a valuable asset to those of us who live here. The beauty is unimaginable as I am often reminded by city visitors. The hunting and fishing is great. Our snowmobile trails are used by many because of our close proximity to Rochester and the Twin Cities. The bike trail is well known. Lake Byllesby and its campground is always full. Hay Creek Campground with its’ horse trails and Zumbro Valley ... .

Once you permit one wind farm, you open the door for more. We are a testing ground for placing wind turbines in a populated area.

You are responsible for protecting the public, and that includes protecting us against possible terrorist attack on the nuclear plant (radar clutter.)

Public opinion is turning against wind farms as more information is becoming available. We can’t let them in when information is just now coming into public view and scrutiny.

Tags: wind energy, wind power, opinion, commentaries, goodhue