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Dan, Carmen Dahl
Corning
On Feb. 21, 2023, almost 100 people filled the Adams County courtroom to attend a board of supervisors meeting. At this time, the board was presented with a petition with 600 signatures requesting a moratorium on any further wind industry projects until the citizens of Adams County could present evidence and concerns regarding any new projects.
One major concern was requesting the current setback fo 1,200 ft. from the foundation of a home be increased to 3,280 ft. from the property line, which is the safety guidelines set for the wind industries own employees. To date, over 930 signatures have been presented to the board of supervisors.
Over the last 16 weeks, there have been numerous testimonials and letters presented to the board from those who have experienced the negative impacts of wind turbines that are 1,200 ft. to a half mile from their homes. The noise, flicker, shadow and vibrations have been a reality in their lives, even to the extent that the conditions were unbearable, some families left their homes and moved to another county. Others have come before the board to give testimony on the negative impacts of wind turbines on their property and health. How has the board responded to these testimonials and the 930 petition signatures? At best, dimissive.
When the wind energy representatives present their projects to the board, they dismiss that there are any negative impacts to people living 1,200 to 1,500 ft from a wind turbine. Although, within the wind energy companies own “good neighbor easement” it states that those negative impacts will be experienced up to one-half mile from a turbine. Under the easement it is stated, “Grant of effects, sound and shadow easements-owner hereby grants and conveys to developer an exclusive easement on, over, under and across all or elsewhere to cast shadows or flicker onto the owner’s property; impact view or visual effects from the owner’s property; cause or emit noise, vibration, air turbulence, wake and electromagnetic and frequency interference and cast light from the FAA required lighting and also safety and security lighting relating to the wind farm.”
At a June 22 work session, the board was polled as to what they thought the setbacks should be from a non-participating resident. Scott Akin and Tony Hardisty stated setbacks as 1,500 ft. from a dwelling. Leland Shipley stated 1,600 to 1,700 ft. from a dwelling. Bobby Maynes has recused herself. The only board member who has stated a compromise is Chris Standley, advocating for a half mile from a non-participant’s property line.
The question remains: what about the non-participating landowners protection of their rights listed in Iowa Code 331.301 stating rights to “peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort and convenience?” According to three of these board members, your voice and your rights as a non-participant do not exist.