Beware of wind farms in county

To the editor:

The county officials say that there was no resistance to the Bluff Point wind farm, therefore, they unanimously agreed to allow the development of the massive wind turbines.

The truth is that the residents of Jay County were never properly notified. The decision was already made, and the proposal was approved, without giving anyone a chance to defend their quality of life.

The STOP Jay County Wind Farms Facebook page was created to represent the Jay County citizens that do not want wind farms in their back yard.

The Facebook page had over 17,500 views within the first week (in April), and the site continues to average 8,000 views per week.

The STOP Jay County Wind Farms committee has been approached by many people wanting to donate toward the cost of mass mailers. People are donating so that the general public can be informed about the dates of the public meetings (regarding the wind farms). This is due to the fact that the county officials are not making a concentrated effort to provide adequate notification to the residents of Jay County.

The wind energy industry is a multi billion dollar business. The information and research data that they proclaim as proof, is provided by experts that their own industry has funded. This data is not obtained by an independent source and it is not unbiased. Millions of dollars are spent on marketing in an effort to push their agenda.

The wind industry is notorious for preying on towns that have weak ordinances. The Jay County ordinance for wind farms is very loosely written, and weak by all standards.

Scout Clean Energy is using Benton County as an example of what they think we should consider a success story. However, Jay County and Benton

County are very different: Benton County has a population of 8,681 located within a 407 square mile area.

In contrast, Jay County has a population of 21,500 located within a 384 square mile area.

If you look at the independent research, you will learn that the close proximity of wind turbines to people’s homes has been proven to have a negative impact on property values, people’s health and quality of life. If you doubt the negative impact it is having on people, then take the time to do your own investigation. Talk with the people living in and around the Bluff Point wind farm.

Safety is also another issue to be considered. Because of a wind turbine’s size and highly combustible parts, Portland Fire Department does not have the necessary equipment needed to handle a turbine that malfunctions. Their current plan of action is to just “let it burn out.”

Jay County is littered with CAFOs, and now a highly controversial puppy mill. So, why not add wind farms to our portfolio of monstrosities?

If we want to discourage people from moving into our community and we want to encourage our young people to move out of our community, then this is exactly the path we should continue to stay on.

Beware, all of Jay County is slated for wind farms.

Sheila Birsfield

Rural Portland