Homesteads and wind farms

plowjockey · #1 02/04/12, 08:12 AM

Two scenairos.

1. You have located a great property, to purchase to homestead - reasonably priced, nice old house, pond, reasonable conditions barns, a little land...

Perfect, right?

But, it's located with eyeshot/earshot, of a "windfarm", of 35-40 wind turbine generators, 400' tall.

2. You already own this property, but surrounding farmers, who probably mean well, stand to make a lot of money by leasing land for these "green" electricity generators, which their electricity will be sold elsewhere. Your only real benefit, will be saving a couple of bucks from your property taxes.

Your sunsets, will be changed forever. You might be subject to daily mind-numbing "shadow flicker" and some posssibly noise.

How do you feel about this?

Poll has multiple choices

geo in mi · #2 02/04/12, 08:21 AM

Enjoy the sunrises???

geo

Tommyice · #3 02/04/12, 08:30 AM

Before buying near a wind farm or supporting in on your land, go and speak to people who live with those turbines near their homes. Ask about the "flicker effect" and migraines. If they are going on your land, be sure you know about the liens the wind providers hold on your property and for how long.

Jennifer L. · #4 02/04/12, 08:40 AM

I'm hoping at some point to get wind turbines on my farm. Why? So I won't have to sell out to city people from NJ, NYC, Philadelphia. I'd 100 times rather look at a wind turbine than some city persons house/backyard/lights/cars and traffic, etc.

And I like the idea of renewable power. I'm located near Fort Drum, and IMO, half the reason those soldiers are deployed is because of energy that we need. We need to home grow our power, and those boys and girls stay home.

Would I miss the perfect sunrise I have now? Sure. But I'll miss it with houses there, too, and it would be worse.

Probably no surprise that there is a huge argument about wind power in my township: The farmers want it, and rightly say that we should be able to use our land as we see fit, the summer people say they don't want to look at wind turbines and that it would lower their property values. It pretty much comes down to those who would benefit vs. those who would get no direct benefit, or no perceived benefit. I think those who hold it back are selfish as far as what the country needs, and ridiculous as to thinking their city houses are a better looking blight on the countryside than a wind turbine.

Frankly, I can't wait until NYS steps in and tells people that wind power is here to stay and stop stalling on it. The lawsuits and wasted time in our town is nuts.

Jennifer

Micheal · #5 02/04/12, 08:42 AM

Live within 5 miles of the 12 located in my township - can see 5 of them this time of year (leaves off the trees). Am happy cause with them being in the township they have lowered my tax bill; both town/county and school.
Have friends a lot closer to them and haven't heard of anyone complain of "shadow-flicker" nor noise. I've only heard them once and that was when I was within spitting distance of the bottom of one.
Biggest objection(s) from those that complain - ruination of the so called pristine view and "it's not on my land"! The last meaning they aren't getting any money directly from them being close by.........

Raven12 · #6 02/04/12, 09:26 AM

A little noise and obstructed view is a ton better than fracking and mine subsidence issues.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 02/04/12, 09:31 AM

Better than having a Travel America Truck Stop build just behind your property. We have 100 acres, so the TA is a half mile away, but the lights in the parking area are ALWAYS on. My back yard will never be dark at night again.

The repair bay doors face the back of my house, too, and the sound of the air powered lug nut drivers is MOST irritating. Day, night, all the time.

maverickxxx · #8 02/04/12, 10:25 AM

I would like to install one on the top of this hill I'm cutting trees wind is always blowing up here n adds another factor in on cutting these trees. So would prolly be a good spot for one. I worked on a project out by Watertown n my buddy was working for the company installing them by lowville an u could only see a few a them at any one time.

sisterpine · #9 02/04/12, 10:41 AM

I had never thought about it but I think if it flickers for half of each day I would go mad. Other wise, say if you were north or south of the generators that might be okay.

ChristieAcres · #10 02/04/12, 10:42 AM

Considering other alternatives mentioned, I wouldn't mind being near windfarms.

Home Harvest · #11 02/04/12, 10:58 AM

Until, and unless, we come to our senses regarding energy useage in the US, you need to pick your poison, literally.

Living in PA and being about 15 miles from a nuke plant (Susquehanna Plant), and having the closest stream to my property (Catawissa Creek) not able to support fish due to coal mine acid runoff, I'd gladly vote to allow wind turbines on or near my property.

I hear a lot of NIMBY in the complaints about wind farms, but not many constructive alternatives, so I'll offer one here and now. Change the building code to REQUIRE solar panels on ALL new construction, and offer federal rebates for installing solar panels on existing private and commercial buildings. One European country pays farmers to have solar panels on towers above their fields and pastures.

Presidential candidates have been talking about energy independence for almost 40 years. Isn't it time one of them actually did something about it?

Jena · #12 02/04/12, 11:20 AM

I wonder if making the turbine blades translucent would help with the flicker. Seems like it would have to help anyways.

Pink_Carnation · #13 02/04/12, 11:36 AM

Well near me they wouldn't make much noise or have much flicker. Our area is safe from them because there just isn't enough wind. The noise and flicker would concern me if we were looking to relocate in a different area but then so would the amount of wind needed to make them profitable.

I would guess the blades can't be translucent because the materials that are probably can't handle the stress.

snowlady · #14 02/04/12, 08:05 PM

I live about 1200 feet from one. They are noisier than you think especially when the air is heavy or there is crusty snow on the ground. The noise just echoes off of it. There are nights my kids can hear it in their beds and you can forget about sitting outside in the quiet of the evening. We don't get much flicker but our neighbors get it for hours. At their place it's like having someone turn the lights off and on much of the day. It really does change the landscape and view. Due to the distance (or lack of distance) from our property, the windmill company gave us the same deal the landowners got! Enough to put both of my kids thru college. That makes the noise a little easier to bear.

fantasymaker · #15 02/04/12, 09:33 PM

LOL there wasnt a spot for I want a wind farm ON my place but not NEAR it!

farmerDale · #16 02/04/12, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pink_Carnation

Well near me they wouldn't make much noise or have much flicker. Our area is safe from them because there just isn't enough wind. The noise and flicker would concern me if we were looking to relocate in a different area but then so would the amount of wind needed to make them profitable.

I would guess the blades can't be translucent because the materials that are probably can't handle the stress.

I am with you on the lack of wind. Even if there were some nearby, our yard is in the woods, and so they would not be visible anyway.

I have seen prettier things in this world, but they are here, and in todays, "green" world will probably become more common in the more bald areas on the plains. Our utility company charges MORE if you want to join the green bandwagon and buy wind power. Not many signing up for this voluntary pillaging. Go figure. lol

willow_girl · #17 02/05/12, 07:41 AM

Quote:

A little noise and obstructed view is a ton better than fracking and mine subsidence issues.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm in SW PA, so fracking is a real concern here.

Also, I'm about 5 miles from a nuclear reactor! And yeah, that makes me a l'il nervous ...

There are worse ways to produce energy than wind turbines ...

Molly Mckee · #18 02/05/12, 09:03 AM

I wonder how many that said they wouldn't mind having a wind farm close or on their property have been on or near a wind farm. They make lots of noise and there is the flickering problem.

plowjockey · #19 02/05/12, 10:48 AM

I know about how long this would last at my house, before the for sale sign goes up..

plowjockey · #20 02/05/12, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micheal

Biggest objection(s) from those that complain - ruination of the so called pristine view and "it's not on my land"! The last meaning they aren't getting any money directly from them being close by.........

You are absolutely right that this is about greed.

Greed on the part of farmers and wind developers, who want big money, without regard for others.

Greed for those who want a quality of life and are not getting a piece of the action.

I certainly do have to ask - what's in it for me and my family?