Wind Turbines
Landowner – What Have I Done?
A farmer writes, “Now each morning when I awake, I pray and then ask myself, “what have I done?”
I am involved with the BlueSky/Greenfield wind turbine project in N.E. Fond du Lac County. I am also a successful farmer (Landowner – What Have I Done?) who cherishes his land. My father taught me how to farm, to be a steward of my fields, and by doing so, produce far better crop production. As I view this years crops, my eyes feast on a most bountiful supply of corn and soybeans. And then my eyes focus again on the trenches and road scars leading to the turbine foundations.
Landowner – What Have I Done?
In 2003, the wind energy company made their first contacts with us. A $2000 “incentive” started the process of winning us over, a few of us at a time. The city salesman would throw out their nets, like fishermen trawling for fish. Their incentive “gift” lured some of us in at first. Then the salesmen would leave and let us talk with other farmers. When the corporate salesman returned, there would be more us ready to sign up, farmers had heard about the money to be made. Perhaps because we were successful farmers, we were the leaders and their best salesman.
Landowner – What Have I Done?
Sometime in 2004 or 2005, we signed $4000 turbine contracts allowing them to “lease” our land for their needs. Our leases favored the company, but what did we know back then? Nobody knew what we were doing. Nobody realized all the changes that would occur which we would have no control. How often my friends and I have made that statement!
What have I done?
I watched stakes being driven in the fields and men using GPS monitors to place markers here and there. When the cats and graders started tearing 22-foot-wide roads into my fields, the physical changes started to impact not only me and my family but unfortunately, my dear friends and neighbors. Later, a 4 foot by 2-foot-wide trench started diagonally across my field. A field already divided by their road was now being divided again by the cables running to a substation. It was now making one large field into 4 smaller, irregularly shaped plots.
Other turbine hosts also complained about their fields being subdivided or multi cable trenches requiring more land. Roads were cut in using anywhere from 1000 feet to over ½ mile of land to connect necessary locations. We soon realized that the company places roads and trenches where they would benefit the company most, not the land owner. One neighbors access road is right next to some of his out buildings. Another right next to his fence line.
Landowner – What Have I Done?
At a wind company dinner presented for the farmers hosting the turbines, we were repeatedly told—nicely and indirectly – to stay away from the company work sites once they start. I watch as my friends faces showed the same concern as I had, but none of us spoke out. Months later, when I approached a crew putting in lines where they promised me they would defiantly not go, a representative told me I could not be here. He insisted that I leave. The line went in. The company had the right. I had signed the lease.
Landowner – What Have I Done?
Grumbling started almost immediately after we agreed to a 2% yearly increase on our 30 year lease contracts. Some felt we should have held out for 10. What farmer would lock in the price of corn over the next 5 years, yet alone lock one in at 2% yearly for 30 years? Then rumors leaked that other farmers received higher yearly rates, so now contracts varied. The fast talking city folk had successfully delivered their plan. Without regard for our land, we were allowing them to come in and spoil it. All of the rocks we labor so hard to pick in our youth were replaced in a few hours by miles of roads packed hard with 10 inches of large breaker rock. Costly tiling, we installed to improve drainage has now been cut to pieces by company trenching machines. What have I done?
Each night a security team rides down our roads checking the foundation sites. They are checking for vandals and thieves. Once, when I had ventured with guests to show them foundation work, security stopped us and aske me, standing on my own property, what I was doing there. What have I done?
Now, at social functions, we can clearly see the huge division this has created among community members. Suddenly, there are strong-sided discussions and heated words between friends and yes, between relatives about wind turbines. Perhaps this is a greater consequence that the hard caused to my land! Life is short and my friendships precious.
Landowner – What Have I Done?
I tried, as did some of the other farmers, to get out of our contracts but we had signed a binding contract and a contract is a contract. If you are considering placing wind turbines on your property, I strongly recommend that you please reconsider. Study the issues. Think of all the harm versus the benefits to your land and, in the future, to your children’s land by allowing companies to lease your land for turbines.
