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Chuck and Stacey Truman
Prescott, Adams County, Iowa
We love our Adams County, Iowa. We are a five-generation Adams County family on both sides – from our grandparents, parents, ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. We hope this legacy continues on.
We have spent time throughout the years trying to be good neighbors. We try to help our neighbors whenever possible, we participate in many community and church activities, we volunteer, pies and cinnamon rolls are made and donated for many fundraising events, we’ve donated many, many hours of our time, effort and finances – all because we love our communities. The “Golden Rule” has been and still is our daily guide. And now we are asking for your help. We need you.
At least two wind-turbine companies (Invenergy and Engie) are working in our small county. They want to build 100 wind turbines. Those 100 wind turbines would be in addition to the 108 we already have – and the Prescott area has 13 that will be built to begin operation by this fall or shortly thereafter. That will be 221 wind turbines in Adams County - if Invenergy’s goals are realized – plus whatever Engie comes up with. How many will Adams County end up with; 221? 250? 200? 121? How many? When is it enough?
We love our sunrises, sunsets and beautiful views from our home. We often share photos on Facebook because we want others to be able to enjoy the beauty we enjoy. Wind turbines make a lot of noise; we do not want to hear that noise. We love our peace and quiet where we can hear the birds singing and coyotes howling. We do not want to deal with wind turbine shadow flickers or have to look at those red lights as they blink with the blade rotations. But most of all – we do not want anyone’s wind turbine placement measured from our home. It is an insult to us to measure across our land the 1,250 feet or so – to put a measuring dot on our foundation so a wind turbine can be plunked right next to us. Where are our land rights?
Once a wind turbine is constructed, how long will it be there; 20 years? 40 years? 60 years? Who will take them down once they’re no longer useful? Will the farmer who owns the land under the wind turbine be responsible? Will the wind turbine energy company owner be responsible? Will you and I be responsible – because the county becomes responsible? Will they just become rotting and dangerous eyesores? The Adams County Board of Supervisors are finally discussing this issue, but no decisions have been reached. Pay attention. This is called decommissioning and it takes deep, deep pockets to complete it correctly.
Your property stops at our property line – just like our property stops at your property line. No one should think it’s right to use our land -- our home to get a wind turbine – just like we shouldn’t use your house or your land to get something we decide we want. Our non-participant land and rights are just as important as the participating property rights.
The board of supervisors can change the ordinance so set-backs are from property lines – not from our foundation or your foundation.
The board of supervisors can change the ordinance so set-back distance is increased – reducing the many turbine issues for neighbors who are non-participants like us.
The board of supervisors have been given 930-plus petition signers. They can honor those signers and enact the requested moratorium (a pause) to give themselves and Adams County citizens time to understand the process. It will also give them time to reflect and consider the long-term ramifications of more wind turbines, including whose deep pockets will be responsible for decommissions. The board of supervisors can choose to be responsive.
Now is the time to act. We need you.
Call every Adams County Supervisor.