DIXON – An appraiser said Tuesday that he couldn’t find any evidence that a proposed wind farm in southwestern Lee County would hurt nearby property values long term.

Michael Crowley, a Bureau County appraiser, has been hired by Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power to study the effects of its planned turbines on nearby home values.

During his testimony, Crowley said negative publicity during the early stages of the development of wind farms can have a short-term adverse effect on property values. That stigma disappears after people learn about turbines, he said.