Pantagraph.com | Letters | Keep fighting to stop spread of wind farms

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Hilldweller wrote on May 8, 2007 3:35 PM:

" Thank you, Diane. I can see from the bloggers they have not learned anything. I'm particularly amused that Gramma thinks they produce clean air. It's a shame they don't do any good. Then it might be worth it. Don't let anybody tell you don't belong in the country. I hope you find a better place someday. "

to: to what difference. wrote on Apr 29, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Call it doomsday garbage if you wish. You've been warned by scientists a lot more educated than you or me...me, for sure. They're not predicting doomsday, but it could spell doom for a lot of people. I like your line about fear being a renewable resource. Fear is an individual's issue and can be overcome by facing facts or denial. This is not the time for denial. Knowing what could come arms us with enough fortitude to do what we can to prevent it. If the interenational efforts succeed in slowing the climate changes we're undergoing now a side effect could be a lot of disbelievers will say"doomsday garbage in, garbage out' ..it never existed...the warnings were garbage. Like I've said when getting a cold snap, 'so much for global warming.' I agree with a lot of what's said at: www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/04/26/news/doc4630ad72f28c3416737864.txt "

To What Difference Will It Make.... wrote on Apr 29, 2007 10:32 AM:

" Please spare us all the doomsday garbage. We all watch TV and have seen an Inconvient Truth. Just remember fear, as well as wind energy, is a renwable resource!!! "

What difference will it make 100 years from now. wrote on Apr 28, 2007 6:21 PM:

" Think about that. You won't be here but your grandchildren might be along with all the immigrants getting away from flooded coasts and deserts all along the tropics. We'll need all those workers for double cropping and sweeping the suburbs from dust storms. Maybe we can all go swimming in the Gulf of Mexico which could be just south of Springfield if global warming continues. A hundred years from now, it could be nothing but "city" from Decatur to Chicago and Springfield crowded with blunt smartaleks. A U.S. dollar will be worth about one penny and 80 per cent of that will go to taxes because most of your grandchildren will have to be on welfare. sounds a lot worse than my "view" being spoiled by a bunch of wind turbines or even a nuclear power plant every 25 miles. But go ahead, be environmentally irresponsible...it's no sunburned skin off your nose. But then, again, maybe the climate effects will accellerate. "

Hey Chicago Mark wrote on Apr 28, 2007 5:46 PM:

" Lots of room along lakeshore drive in the lake for hundreds of these wind turbines. How would like that view? And if you're commuting into town, there's lots of room in the median and along the parkways for even more. Since most of the power from central Illinois is destined for Chicago, how about getting a couple thousand of your own so we can save some money on the ones here? They're as pretty as Sears tower and a lot more useful at solving global warming. The turbines and any other energy saving industry is welcome on my 160 acres in Centrla Illinois. So, we agree on the turbines but how about cutting some of your smart alek talk calling the lady "gramma." We don't like personal insults any more than you city or burb folks. "

Gramma wrote on Apr 28, 2007 5:29 PM:

" To Chicago Mark: If that's not smog, then what is blovking the Sears Tower when you get off on Harlem from 55 and you can barely make it out? I'm sorry if I offended you, but please enlighten me. "

Patriot wrote on Apr 28, 2007 2:11 PM:

" 1.1 billions tons of coal are burned every year to make 51% of our electricity. Several billion dollars are spent to make the nuclear fuel to run our nuclar powerplants that generate 20% of our electricity. No miner has to die to make the wind. No incredibly dangerous radioactive isotopes are made to make wind electricity. There is no pollution with wind electricity. By all means, let's stay with 20th century polluting technology. "

To Diane wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:18 PM:

" Your support is greatly appreciated! There are still folks fighting the Twin groves project as well as the project in the western part of the county and projects all accross Illinois. The less than ethical practices of many wind developers out East has caused a large coalition to recently file a Federal anti-trust complaint with the Depatment of Justice. We commend you for for being brave enough to go public with your comments. We have talked with many in the Twin Groves project area that share your views, but for a variety of reasons, choose not to publicly. "

to Dawn wrote on Apr 28, 2007 8:23 AM:

" If you like your high electric bills from Ameren IP, then support wind farms. That "free" energy comes to the market place at a higher price than power plant power and doesn't pay its fair share of taxes so we have to subsidize again in our taxes, road repairs, and lost fossil fuels to build, service and maintain. This isn't a free ride like taxing the wealthy. "

ChicagoMark wrote on Apr 28, 2007 6:57 AM:

" Hey Gramma... I'm a lifelong Chicago resident who supports the expansion of wind farms to reduce use of coal-fired electricity generation. But your comment about smog blocking the view of Sears Tower is simply wrong. I've never seen that... not once.... and I see the building every day on my commute into the city. "

tired of it all wrote on Apr 28, 2007 6:57 AM:

" They could have put a nucleur power plant there for less money and used a lot less land, and it would have created the energy of 15 such farms, if not more. People need to get a grip on what living together really means, and sometimes it is going to be an inconvenience. Everybody who has a complaint can look behing them and find at least 5 that they hinder. Take your turn in the barrell. "

fred wrote on Apr 28, 2007 6:50 AM:

" to An ill wind blows: First of all I live within 5 miles of the wind farm (or you could call it "harvesting") and I guarentee you that you will not find 10 days a year that the wind is not blowing. Secondly ask yourself how many acres of rich farmland has been taken out of production to build all the sub-divisions around B-N and the acres that the Interstat highways take up? As for me, I'll take a windmill on my property... just let me plug in my house!!! "

Dawn wrote on Apr 28, 2007 2:32 AM:

" Diane, wind energy is clean and 100% safe. If you don't like your high electric bills from Ameren; I suggest that you buy a windmill for around 5-7K. There are plenty of government grants to help you pay for it, and in the state of Illinois, you can even apply for a property tax exemption if you have one. Also, it is law that the utility companies have to buy your excess electricity. Yes, that’s right you could receive a check from your utility rather than writing them one! Now, do you really want to abandon the green revolution? "

BlogHog wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:54 PM:

" The post before this simply represents what we have come to know as "Central Illinois Negativity". Will it ever end? "

An Ill Wind Blows wrote on Apr 27, 2007 10:40 PM:

" Let the folks who love being ripped off by the wind companies in the name of being green rely solely upon the electricity which these monstrosities produce. Hope they have access to a biodegradable hand fan on a popsicle stick when it's 95 degrees and those atrocities are standing motionless on a hot summer day. Hope those farmers aren't kicking themselves too hard when they're losing acres and acres of $6 corn being eaten up by corn borer because they gave up their access to crop protection. "

cry me a cup full wrote on Apr 27, 2007 3:41 PM:

" living near the east side wind farm i see nothing wrong with this. it makes no noise, the roads are being fixed by the company as they told that they would do. everything there is and has a plan. the roads will be as good or better when they are done. no on runs to eastern mclean county to take photos of the beauty of the land. being a photographer i have got so cool shot with the turbine in them. they have already been published in a news paper. the red lights only red at night and they all falsh at the same time so you will not act like you are stoned. get over it and thing about the future and that things will be differant than when you were a kid. "

re: to "City folks" wrote on Apr 27, 2007 3:09 PM:

" Not true. Your definition is too broad. You don't have to like what I do, and I can't cause harm to you or your land. Outside of that how negative you feel about anything is irrelevant. You may decide my livestock negatively affects you. Sorry neighbor, I am not getting rid of my livestock because you don't like them. City folks is correct, If I want to build a 300ft silo I can, you don't and shouldn't have anything to say about it. "

Har, Har, Har, wrote on Apr 27, 2007 1:45 PM:

" So...I can do what I want with my land as long as it does not negatively effect my neighbor? Please define negative effect. Could we use the stench from your pig farm as a negative effect? Your unsightly falling down corn crib? Your unsightly rusted and aged farm implements? The dust you raise when you plow during a wind storm? The smoke polution from your burn off? That "earthy" smell when you fertalize? So far the only negative effect I have heard reported is the "ruined view of the landscape/sunsets". I really need my air conditioning during the summer so I can keep my windows closed to avoid the smell and smoke you create. And for that I need electricty. Sorry to have inconvenienced you neighbor. What a bummer. "

Jon wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:48 PM:

" Diane, if you are curious about turbine placement and the resultant energy generation efficacy, go ask an engineer and not the opinion section of your local newspaper. "

to "City Folks" wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:42 PM:

" It is obvious from your comment you are not truly familar with the way long term farm people have always handled things in farm country. You are partially right - you can do whatever you want with your land, SO LONG AS you do not negatively impact anyone else. This has always been the law, and farm people generally recognize this, and try to do what they can to be good neighbors. Those who try to stand on the "I can do whatever I want without any consideration of anyone else" platform are on shaky ground if in fact the development is negative to others... "

To: To me only attitude wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:34 PM:

" Farming is an industry like manufacturing, insurance, banking and others. A good or service is produced and sold for money. Areas that are zoned agricultural are closer to being zoned industrial or commercial than they are residential since they are taxed at a higher rate due to the property being used for production. A farming community could be considered an industrial park since it is a collection of businesses all producing a good. Complain all you want, but your argument is as hollow as the others. "

BlogHog wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:27 PM:

" Global warming, dependence on fossil fuels, war for oil. The list goes on and on yet a viable, plentiful, alternative based upon renewable energy is welcomed locally with the same enthusiasm as a landfill. We can't have it both ways. Alternative fuels and energy will require a dramtatic change to our lifestyles in many cases. I for one, favor most technologies which reduce the US thirst for oil. I traveled to Ellsworth to form my own opinion of wind farms. Standing within 100 yards of a turbine I actually found them to be somewhat calming. No doubt I will be in the minority regarding this subject. So take your shots. "

City folks wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:04 PM:

" you can tell all the complainer are city people. If you grew up in or by the country you would know you can do what you want with your own land. You don't tell your neighbors what to do with theirs. If the are not polluting the water table or the poisioning the air, then it is none of your business. City people do understand run your own life. They can only live by trying to run everyone elses. Don't like a certain color, pass something that all houses have to be beige. Try that in the country. "

karen wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:33 AM:

" Keep fighting? I didn't know anyone was seriously fighting to begin with. I mean there really aren't any negative to this, unless you were hoping to rip someone off with a new sub-divsion developement. They are light electric poles, once you get used to them, you won't notice them. I've stood under them, there isn't any real noise. "

Gramma wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:16 AM:

" Hey Diane, would you rather have all the pollution hanging in the air like in the big cities? I'd rather have the wind turbines any day. Have you been to Chicago lately? You can't even see the Sears Tower. And that's on a somewhat clear day. The smog and crap just hang in the air. Consider yourself lucky you can at least breath around here. Just think, Bloomingyon-Normal could look like that someday, then you'll want the clean air that comes from windmills. "

To "Me Only Attitude" wrote on Apr 27, 2007 10:52 AM:

" Not positive what the wind turbines should be called, but to try and call it "farming" is a total offense to those of us who grew up farming and own farms today. The best quote I can think of is, to paraphrase - "I know Farming, and this is no Farm." Let's identify the wind turbine deals for what they are - industrial developments driving their way into farming communities via zoning exceptions using cash as their vehicle. Then we can intelligently discuss whether the industrial parks are appropriate for rural McLean County... "

To "Me Only Attitude" wrote on Apr 27, 2007 10:52 AM:

Me Only Attitude wrote on Apr 27, 2007 10:15 AM:

" Diane, please peddle your "me only" attitude somewhere else. It's not your land that these turbines sit on. The farmer's are not puppets to do your bidding by making a nice "farm environment" for you. You moved to the country, now abide by country rules. As the song goes..."Green Acres is the place to be, Farm living is the life for me...." Welcome to the farm of the 21st century! "

Windy here wrote on Apr 27, 2007 7:44 AM:

" There are some very strong and very intelligent people working very hard here on the west side of the county to limit wind farm construction. I am sure they appreciate the encouragement. "

I Live wrote on Apr 27, 2007 7:37 AM:

" I live very near the arrowsmith project (less than a mile) and I could not DISAGREE more with the letter writer. The folks who ran the project were nothing but kind to me and my neighbors, and as of yet, we've yet to encounter any major disturbances/inconveniences as a result of the wind farm. "

Amen wrote on Apr 27, 2007 6:59 AM:

" they are very unsightly and detract from the beauty of the landscape "

viewfromhere wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:45 AM:

" Yes, indeed! Don't be fooled by the stories from the wind salemen: these machines should not be sited near homes. There's plenty of open space with good wind potential, and that's where they should go. Thank you for the important reminder to keep up the fight! "

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