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Oct 6, 2009 10:54 pm US/Central
Dakota County Wind Farm Raises Concerns
GREENVALE TOWNSHIP, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Greenvale Township is surrounded by corn and soybean fields. It's here where Sparks Energy and Medin Renewable Energy plan to construct up to 11 wind turbines to generate 11 megawatts of power. (File)
AP
Wind power is the darling of America's renewable energy movement. The so called, "clean power," that will help satisfy our growing electric needs. But in southern Dakota County, some residents say -- not here.
"We're not against renewable energy, we just think it has a place and its place is away from people," says Dan Hron.
He lives in Greenvale Township surrounded by corn and soybean fields. It's here where Sparks Energy and Medin Renewable Energy plan to construct up to 11 wind turbines to generate 11 megawatts of power.
Hron's opposition is clearly stated on the large signs lining his front lawn.
"These things do not belong in close proximity to homes," he said.
As it stands, the project would construct the wind turbines within 800 feet of existing homes, in compliance with regulations set down by the state's Public Utilities Commission. But opponents say health and noise studies indicate that's far too close.
The PUC would still need to approve the project after all public comments have been considered.
Not everyone in the area is opposed to the wind farm. Ken Malecha owns a family farm just north of where the towers would be built and said he welcomes the project.
According to Malecha, "I think that I would rather have a wind turbine on my land or on my neighbor's land than having another huge power line coming in, bringing the power from western Minnesota, which I think would be more destructive to our agricultural landscape than we have."
Opponents, like Hron, say more time is needed to study the health effects from the low frequency noise and the "shadow flicker" as the rotor blades produce a strobe light effect.
Hron is also concerned about what the project will do to his property values.
"Are you going to look at a piece of property that has eight to 11 wind turbines within 1,000 feet of it or are you going to look somewhere?" said Hron.
Malecha said so long as the project is in compliance with state regulations governing wind farms, he will support the plan.
"In this case, if the developer meets the setbacks, then I'm fine with it," he said.
Anyone wishing to express views on the proposal will need to submit their written comments to the Public Utilities Commission by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. For more information about the proposal,
click here.
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