Wind turbines, if they are to be built anywhere, should be placed in very sparsely populated areas because many of the most disruptive effects of having turbines nearby can be reduced simply by placing them far away from people, but developers are trying to move into areas, like North East township, where residential communities are nearby. Why?
North East has far more people per square mile than any comparable wind turbine installations, including Sheldon, New York which was specifically chosen by the developers to illustrate a similar location.
North East has higher population density
In the last township meeting, Sheldon, New York was used to illustrate what the developers believed to be a comparable location to North East, however, comparing the two communities, there’s a huge difference. North East township has 3 1/2 times the population density! The only way wind turbines can be placed in a community like ours is for developers to convince local officials to reduce, as much as possible, the allowable distance between the turbines and any houses, property and people nearby, dramatically increasing the negative effects while becoming far more visually intrusive to everyone in the area, lowering property values and literally changing the nature of North East.
We will have to live with what the developers leave behind
No matter what your view of wind turbines, pushing them ever closer to residential populations and communities like ours seems to be a decision based on potential short term benefits for the developers while disregarding the effects on the rest of us. When the developers have gone, we will still be here living with what they’ve left behind.
If you wish to make your opinions known, please attend the township supervisors meeting on Monday, April 15th at 9AM. If you cannot attend, please contact the supervisors and zoning administrator using the contact information listed on the right.
It’s our community, it’s up to us.
jason says
I am not going to argue that North East Township has 181.8 people per square mile, but the area the wind farm is going to impact has far less that that. The most populated area in the suggested windmill zone is the far northern part of it on sidehill rd. The rest of the proposed area is mainly farmland. So instead of using the township average of population density, I think you should figure out the actual number for the proposed wind farm zone. And why is it that it seems like everyone is for green energy and alternative forms of energy until it comes to their town.
Paul Crowe says
Excellent point, jason, there probably are fewer people within the specific confines of the wind turbine construction zone, however, the same would probably hold true for the other locations as well, so the comparison and the ratio would, very likely, still hold true. Can’t say, don’t know, but working with the numbers we have, that’s what the ratio is. The important point, however, is the effect of the wind turbines extends far beyond the defined area where they are built.
Also, consider everyone else with property in North East who might say, “You let them install wind turbines, why can’t I?” Maybe they would be close to the lake where there’s also a decent wind. How could you say no? It might not be long before wind turbines were everywhere.
As far as “green energy,” you would have to carefully define exactly what that is, most people have a very hazy idea, usually something unique to themselves. It’s probably better to speak of energy, period, because it makes the conversation a whole lot clearer, but green energy isn’t the issue here anyway.
To your last point, the amazing thing about the very loosely organized group of us who are all trying to get everyone involved and thinking about these wind turbines before it’s a done deal, is how diverse the opinions are within the group about energy, the environment and everything else. So your assumption “everyone is for green energy and alternative forms of energy until …” doesn’t really hold true, as generalizations seldom do.
Abby L. says
Dear Jason — Do we no longer teach the Golden Rule? Even if it disrupts only one person, that is one person too many. I would never do anything to bother my neighbors. What lesson are we teaching our children?
Yvonne S. says
Dear Jason, There are those of us who live in the country because that is just what it is, country! And, that is where we want to live. No disrespect intended, but what you and others apparently don’t know is that this is not the only company looking to put turbines in this area. There could be 500 to 1000’s of these things – an INDUSTRY of these things planted into the ground from Ohio to the NY state line. There won’t be any country when they get through. Please see other websites like wind-watch.org and greatlakeswindtruth.org and educate yourself on the whole
issue – not just a few facts. Then ask yourself, “Would I want my family to live in the middle of a
turbine INDUSTRY?”
N. Swan says
From what I’ve read the energy produced by the wind turbines is not for this area. This happens to small towns all over our country. Companies come in to steal, collect, maximize (however you want to spin it) all kinds of resources. If anyone should be building a wind farm it should be the Township at the peoples’ request, with the peoples’ permission and at the benefit of the people (residents/taxpayers)! DON’T buy into this idea that we need corporations to produce and sell us our energy! Should we be ok with a company trying to come into our area to exploit our resources, and leave the residents with the bill and consequences? So a very few people, most of whom live out of state, can make money? What really needs to happen is for the solar and wind energy prices to come down, so the average person can become energy independent.