Some southern Minnesota residents concerned about the effects of wind turbines will speak today at a public hearing in Goodhue over a proposed wind farm in Goodhue County.
The group Goodhue Wind Truth is bringing in an expert to discuss the dangers of high-frequency sound, which they say is emitted by the turning turbines.
The expert, Rick James, believes the proposed setback for wind turbines of 1,500 feet from homes and businesses is inadequate and that current tests underestimate the potential noise damage.
Supporters say the community-based wind project will provide renewable energy, along with new jobs, tax revenues and other indirect economic benefits.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission hearing on the Goodhue Wind Project is today at the Goodhue High School gym in two sessions: 3 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman will take comments and forward a summary to the utilities commission.
On Monday, tempers flared at a county planning advisory meeting on the wind farm issue, the Rochester Post-Bulletin reported. At the six-hour meeting, commissioners heard about setbacks, shadow flicker, liability and stray voltage.
Hearing has been continued to today – resumes at 3 p.m. at the Goodhue school gym. It went last night until 10:30! We didn’t get to a lot of people who had signed up to speak.
Supporters say the community-based wind project will provide renewable energy, along with new jobs, tax revenues and other indirect economic benefits.
over two decade of records from european wind farms show only 24% of the time windmill produce energy – 76% of the time expensive natural gas power plants needed to produce needed energy. wind energy is 7 times more expensive than coal.
spain which invested heavily in green energy found that they lost 2.5 jobs for every 1 job green energy created.
windfarms do not generate tax revenues in fact without large tax payer subsidies wind farms are a money loosing investment. t.boone pickins has decided to sell his massive windfarm in texas as government money has dried up.
people of goodhue
if you want to create jobs and help business grow demand your council builds a large modern coal power plant. energy is the life blood of industry. this will bring jobs and business because industry will go to where there is reliable, cheap, abudant energy. business will avoid moving to a plance with expensive, unreliable energy being subsidised by high taxes.