What I want
I live in the proposed Goodhue Wind project area. I want what all people expect to be their right. I want to feel safe in my home. I want to continue to enjoy my quiet rural property without the noise from wind turbines or the shadow of a wind turbine falling on my property or on my house. I have worked hard all my life. My property is my single most important possession. What right does anyone have to threaten me by erecting something on their property that will destroy the peace and quiet of my home? Wind developers plan to erect turbines surrounding my home on all sides without my permission. The Goodhue County Commissioners refuse to protect me. They refuse to even acknowledge that industrial wind development is a threat.
The Goodhue County Board has failed to understand the magnitude of the impact that Industrial Wind will have on area residents or the county as a whole. It is their duty to protect the rights of all citizens. The board continues to fail to acknowledge the concerns of the overwhelming majority of citizens who are only demanding caution and consideration of their rights and the risk to their health and property value.
The Goodhue County Planning Advisory Commission appointed a subcommittee to draft a wind turbine ordinance that would protect resident’s health and property rights. The members of the subcommittee worked very hard to arrive at language that will mitigate many of the problems caused by large turbines. The new ordinance is not perfect, non-participants are still expected to put up with noise levels that will mean the turbines will still be heard in our yards outside our homes. The PAC should recommend that the County Commissioners adopt the new wind turbine ordinance.
The Belle Creek township board realized the legitimate concerns of majority of area residents and enacted a moratorium to study wind development problems with the goal of protecting the people with proper setbacks from homes for all wind turbines. Why has Goodhue County failed to do so? I believe in wind energy but I would never erect a 400-foot tall wind turbine 1500 ft from my neighbor. Adequate setbacks are needed to protect all people who will live near turbines for the next sixty years. All citizens are expected to obey the laws and pay their taxes. Is it to much to expect our government to fulfill their responsibility to protect our basic rights?
Rick Conrad
