Aesthetics and Other Issues

Opposition has arisen to the proposed wind farm because people think it will change their view shed. A wind farm can be a significant change. However, while some people express concern over this  change, others see wind farms as elegant and beautiful, a sign of progress, or symbols of a better, less polluted future. The visual effect of a wind farm is a subjective issue, but most of the other criticisms made about wind energy are exaggerated or untrue, and simply reflect attempts by a particular group to discredit the technology, worry our local community, and turn other residents against the proposed project. In comparison to wind turbines, there are smokestacks at coal plants in Indiana that tower well over 1,000 feet in the air.

Some have speculated that the wind energy produced will not be used locally. In reality, electrons flow to the path of least resistance, which means the power produced will feed local homes, schools, and businesses. Electricity is a regional commodity, companies like NextEra look for transmission infrastructure to increase the value of the commodity. Our area does have good access to a broad transmission market, but that doesn't mean it is less likely for the local utilities to purchase the electricity.

Marshall County’s zoning ordinance requires a 1,000 foot setback between a home and a wind turbine. NextEra’s own setback limit is no less than 1,400 feet. Shadow flicker is predictable and is based on the sun’s angle, turbine location, and the distance to an observer; it can be mitigated. Shadow flicker from moving wind blades typically lasts just a few minutes near sunrise and sunset and can be addressed through proper siting of turbines and through use of proven mitigation techniques such as screening plantings. NextEra limits shadow flicker to no more than 30 hours per year cumulatively (if more than one turbine has the potential to cast a shadow on a home). An expert panel for the National Academy of Sciences found shadow flicker to be “harmless to humans.”

Today's large wind turbines make less noise than the background noise you hear in your own home. According to the American Wind Energy Association, an operating wind farm at a distance of about 750 to 1,000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator or a moderately quiet room. Marshall County's wind energy ordinance has a sound requirement in place that prevents a developer from siting wind turbines in a location that would produce sound over 55 dba offsite. 55 dba is less than a vehicle driving down the road. Sound attenuates with distance. A voice may "carry 1.5 miles" but that doesn't mean it can be heard.

Independent studies conducted around the world have consistently found that wind farms have no direct impact on physical health. Neither the American Medical Association, the Canadian Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, nor any leading medical journals or institutions recognize "wind turbine syndrome". In fact, as an energy source that emits no air or water pollution emissions and creates no hazardous waste, wind energy is essential to reducing public health impacts from the energy sector.

Still not convinced? Search online for other local wind farms; get in your car and drive. Pick a random farmhouse in the area and politely ask the owner how they feel about the wind turbines. We believe you’ll find the vast majority of landowners are very thankful to have them. In fact, when asking if they have any regrets, don’t be surprised if you hear “Yes, I regret not having more of them!”

Sound Level Chart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockport_Power_Plant

http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states
“The potential Health Impact of Wind Turbines,” Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, May 2010