No Lee-DeKalb Windfarms » Lee

The wind energy debate: Get involved, please

NoWindFarm — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:24:58 +0000

My wife and I drove to DeKalb last week to attend the public hearing for the proposed Lee-DeKalb Wind Energy Center. Wind energy opponents picketed outside. In total, approximately 375 people were in attendance. The meeting was canceled, as the venue was deemed too small for a fair public hearing. The wind developer was not happy.

My point is that the citizens of DeKalb County are involved in this extremely important issue that may change the character of rural Illinois forever. I am urging Lee County citizens to get involved, educate yourselves, and tell your local government how you feel.

Personally, I am against further industrial wind energy development without additional study. I am pro-renewable energy. I own a hybrid car and use geothermal energy to heat my home, but I don’t believe that wind energy is the answer.

On the surface, wind energy feels good, but there are problems – big problems. Wind energy is extremely expensive, requires a huge footprint, and is not as “green” as you think. It has not proved effective in reducing carbon emissions. It takes about 25 years to recover the carbon released during construction of the turbine considering that they typically operate at one-quarter to one-third rated capacity.

It will not reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We buy foreign oil to gas up our cars, not to generate electricity. It is not reliable. Due to the fluctuations, maintaining the power grid is more complicated and costly.

Reports from all over the world show communities that have been torn apart by these industrial wind energy facilities; neighbors suing neighbors, visual disturbances, and noise from turbines built too close to homes. Serious chronic illnesses have been reported from low-frequency noise, including sleeplessness, headaches, exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, depression, tinnitus and heart palpitations. Adverse effects on concentration have also been reported.

Current Lee County setbacks of 1,400 feet from existing homes are seriously inadequate. California, our country’s largest wind producer, requires setbacks of 1 mile. Other countries require even more.

Are you aware that 2-megawatt turbines are more than 450 feet tall? Almost as tall as the Byron nuclear towers, and there could be hundreds of them.

So please, educate yourselves and get involved. Drive to Paw Paw or Mendota to see what these turbines look, sound and feel like. Has our county’s rural character been preserved? I don’t think so.

By Steve Robery  – Franklin Grove

February 27, 2009

Web Link: http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2009/02/27/67637284/

Wind Turbine Concerns

NoWindFarm — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:26:15 +0000

See a an overview of just some of the Wind Turbine Concerns, like noise, shadow flicker, fires and collapses.

Video: Version 2.2

Video: Version 1.0

Public Hearing Meeting Adjourned Early Because of Overcrowding

NoWindFarm — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:20:11 +0000

The public hearing on Thursday 19, 2009 was adjourned about 15 minutes after it had begun because of massive overcrowding. The room was set up with 160 chairs, but at the start of the meeting there were at least 200 more standing all over the room with dozens in the doorways and out into the hall. Hearing Officer Mr. Dockus was interupted by a woman standing in one of the doorways who said that were many people standing in the halls who could not hear. At this point, Attorney Rick Porter stood up and made a motion to dismiss based on the inadequate facilities. He explained that not only was the meeting breaking the fire code, but it was also violating the Illinois Open Meeting Act. After a short deliberation with Paul Miller the Planning and Zoning Director, Mr. Dockus adjourned the meeting.

Location and date for the next meeting has yet to be announced but will be at least 15 days from Thursday the 19th and likely several days more.

Reports indicate the following county board members attended Thursday night: Marlene Allen, Larry Anderson, Jerry Augsburger, Eileen Dubin, Kenneth Andersen, John Emerson, Julia Fauci, Michael Haines, John Gudmunson, Mark Todd, Pat Vary, Scott Newport, Riley Oncken, Michael Stuckert, Anita Turner, Stephen Walt, Sally DeFauw and John Hulseberg.

View clips from the meeting

What’s the Issue?

NoWindFarm — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:24:12 +0000

This site is dedicated to the education of the public about the proposition of NextEra Energy, formerly known as The Florida Power and Light Company(FPL) to build and operate a 133 wind turbine “farm” in portions of DeKalb and Lee counties.

The argument from the company is that wind turbines are just like power & telephone lines, substations, cell and radio towers etc. They say that turbines are no more intrusive than a power grid running through farmland. However the reality is that wind turbines are not benign structures like telephone lines.

There are many people around the U.S. and the world who are reporting serious medical issues as a direct result of living in close proximity to wind turbines. Now, please understand that we are not against the idea of wind farms. We know that this country needs to develop access to renewable energy and we support the efforts to find and create legitimate sources of non-toxic energy. But we also think that a few should not be made to suffer loss for the supposed betterment of the many.

This is not about having our view of sunset obscured by large metal objects (though the thought is not a pleasant one), nor is this a complaint from people angry about not getting a piece of the financial pie. No, this is about being able to live in our home without the potential for physical trauma in our bodies. Please read and watch the documentation on this site to get an idea of what we are talking about.

If you are moved with compassion to help, click here to learn about many ways to help us. If you have ideas about how to help that are not listed, please contact us.

Thanks for your time and interest.