The wind energy debate: Get involved, please

My wife and I drove to DeKalb last week to attend the public hearing for the proposed Lee-DeKalb Wind Energy Center. Wind energy opponents picketed outside. In total, approximately 375 people were in attendance. The meeting was canceled, as the venue was deemed too small for a fair public hearing. The wind developer was not happy.

My point is that the citizens of DeKalb County are involved in this extremely important issue that may change the character of rural Illinois forever. I am urging Lee County citizens to get involved, educate yourselves, and tell your local government how you feel.

Personally, I am against further industrial wind energy development without additional study. I am pro-renewable energy. I own a hybrid car and use geothermal energy to heat my home, but I don’t believe that wind energy is the answer.

On the surface, wind energy feels good, but there are problems – big problems. Wind energy is extremely expensive, requires a huge footprint, and is not as “green” as you think. It has not proved effective in reducing carbon emissions. It takes about 25 years to recover the carbon released during construction of the turbine considering that they typically operate at one-quarter to one-third rated capacity.

It will not reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We buy foreign oil to gas up our cars, not to generate electricity. It is not reliable. Due to the fluctuations, maintaining the power grid is more complicated and costly.

Reports from all over the world show communities that have been torn apart by these industrial wind energy facilities; neighbors suing neighbors, visual disturbances, and noise from turbines built too close to homes. Serious chronic illnesses have been reported from low-frequency noise, including sleeplessness, headaches, exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, depression, tinnitus and heart palpitations. Adverse effects on concentration have also been reported.

Current Lee County setbacks of 1,400 feet from existing homes are seriously inadequate. California, our country’s largest wind producer, requires setbacks of 1 mile. Other countries require even more.

Are you aware that 2-megawatt turbines are more than 450 feet tall? Almost as tall as the Byron nuclear towers, and there could be hundreds of them.