Welcome to Indiana Wind Watch
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We are a self-funded grassroots organization of volunteers in Indiana concerned about the health, safety, and wellness of Hoosiers forced to live near industrial wind turbines. It is our mission to protect every Hoosier from the unfortunate fate of living near irresponsibly-sited industrial wind turbines.
If you live in Indiana and are concerned about an industrial wind turbine project being planned for your community, please join us. |
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"Destruction of our natural heritage masquerades as the pursuit of green energy." Helen Douglas
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Citizens Requesting a Protective Wind Ordinance in these Counties:
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Bans on Industrial Wind Turbines or Protective Ordinances:
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Current News
Cass County
A RES rep and Commissioners have said the Harvest Wind project is "on hold" for now. Cass County Commissioners' request that the court dismiss citizens lawsuit was DENIED! The matter will move forward. Citizens are suing for setbacks from industrial wind turbines to property lines rather than to homes. Setbacks to homes constitutes the taking of property and rights as landowners will be unable to build on their own property between their home and an industrial wind turbine. Cass County continues its opposition to the RES project. “Susan Selim, Logansport, shared a 2016 report on thriving rural and medium-sized Indiana towns at Monday's commissioners meeting. She said it addressed three qualities thriving rural communities share: quality of relationships among residents, trust in public officials and natural resources. Bringing industrial wind turbines to Cass County would violate all three of those qualities, she continued. Selim also said a petition calling for Cass County's wind turbine setbacks to be a half-mile from nonparticipating property lines exceeds 1,800 signatures.” Clinton County Clinton County Commissioners enacted a moratorium on wind development. E.ON is interested in a project there but Commissioners seem to be holding the line on their moratorium. Fulton County In Fulton County, a local citizens group opposing a proposed commercial wind farm chalked up another win. “Two of three Fulton County Commissioners, Bryan Lewis and Rick Ranstead, signed a pledge stating that as long as they hold public office they will not allow commercial wind turbines in the county. Commissioner Steve Metzger refused to sign, saying he wasn’t interested.” Henry County Henry County citizens are fighting off three wind companies while election season heats up fast. Their No Wind Henry County group is putting forth strong candidates for some key seats in their county. We wish these candidates the best of luck: Ed Tarantino - Commissioner, Kenon Gray - County Council, Susan Huhn - County Council, and Peg Stefandel - County Council. Susan Huhn traveled to the Statehouse to speak in favor of House Bill 1338, representing her county well. We need more citizens across the state who care about the wind issue to take this important step and run for office and local change. Henry County was also well represented at the Statehouse in October 2017 where the Summer Study Session on wind issues was discussed. Also of note in Henry County, the ordinance is being contested with a petition for judicial review, and the Commissioners are now in the process of amending another ordinance. Jasper County The Jasper County Plan Commission is discussing possible changes to the wind ordinance. Opposition is mounting in Jasper County against the White Post Wind RES wind turbine project as neighboring Pulaski County just kicked RES and big wind out with the Pulaski Plan Commission's ban on industrial wind turbines. The Jasper County Property Rights group, made up largely of landowners with a significant amount of land, livestock farmers and residents, are opposing the project. Aeronautical studies have been filed with the FAA on landowners' property who did not sign up for wind turbines on their ground. It is unclear why the wind company would be doing this. RES rep Matt Boys admitted in a public meeting RES does not pay for the expensive aeronautical studies. It is the American taxpayers who are footing the bill for these studies, many of which are for bogus locations for wind turbines. Landowners in Fulton, Cass, and Miami are noticing FAA filings for wind turbines on land they have not leased to RES. Jasper County Landowners have indicated NextEra is also in their area getting wind lease contracts signed. Miami County Miami County's new ordinance with 2,000 foot setbacks to property lines and roads took effect July 11, 2018! Congratulations, Miami County Property Rights group! Montgomery County - Montgomery County's No Wind group is at least 1,100 - and growing strong. Their challenges are unique in that their county does not have wind in its ordinance and they are working diligently to get protections in place for residents. Pulaski County - Pulaski County Plan Commission Votes to Ban Wind Turbines Posted on July 24, 2018 AuthorMichael Gallenberger The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission has recommended banning wind turbines. The vote drew a standing ovation from a packed room of local residents and landowners at the Star City Community Building Monday. It came after a public hearing on proposed changes to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance that would have significantly restricted wind turbine development. The reasons cited for banning it outright included the safety and welfare of the community, flicker issues, and questions about the county’s ability to provide fire protection to the structures. Those were many of the same concerns raised by the 17 audience members who spoke during the hearing. Some addressed the specific proposals in the ordinance, calling for increased setbacks and protections for property owners. Others seemed to address local landowners themselves, warning them of the potential drawbacks to entering into long-term leases with wind energy companies. Some acknowledged that a wind farm might mean some revenue for the county in the short-term, but felt it would do little to stop the population decline and attract new residents. In any case, most of those in attendance were simply against allowing wind turbines at all, as one member of the public pointed out. “There’s been a lot of good points brought up about shadow flicker and setbacks going back to the property, but in all honestly, you have your mind made up whether you want them or not,” he said. “So let’s see, how many people here want them? Huh, no one raised their hand. I think if people were passionate about this, they’d be here fighting for them.” Following the public hearing, commission member Lawrence Loehmer moved to place a three-year moratorium on wind turbine construction. But others felt it would that would simply push a decision into the future, rather than resolving the issue. Commission member Matt Rausch noted that the ordinance changes that were proposed would make it very difficult for wind energy companies to develop in the county, anyway, and member Rick Stone made the motion to ban the turbines outright. The plan commission’s recommendation will now go to the county commissioners for final approval. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer noted that the county has to provide legal justification for banning the structures. He pointed out that the commissioners could ask the plan commission to refine the approved language, based on the county attorney’s recommendation. County Attorney Kevin Tankersley was not in attendance Monday. Neither were plan commission members Mike Tiede and Phil Woolery. Tipton County Council The Auditor of Tipton County, Gregg Townsend, appears on a billboard in Montgomery County with a quote saying that Tipton County Supports Wind. At a Tipton Co. Council, Mr. Townsend was questioned on this public statement appearing on the billboard. The message is being taken as a blanket statement representing the position of the entire County, which members of Council, Commissioner Mullins, and citizens of Tipton County find unacceptable. Meeting link appears here. Go to the 1 hour 55 minute mark: https://livestream.com/accounts/21146465/events/8114286 Last October, Mr. Townsend spoke openly FOR WIND at the Summer Study Hearing at the Statehouse. He spoke as Tipton County AUDITOR, as an OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE of his county. After the hearing, one bystander mentioned to Mr. Townsend that he failed to share with the Summer Study Members that Tipton County INCREASED their setbacks AFTER that first phase of turbines was erected.that Tipton County, by and large, does NOT support Wind or further development in the county. Now, Mr. Townsend continues to tout support for Wind Energy, portraying that the entire County enthusiastically supports wind energy, and is encouraging other Indiana counties to do the same. We say: TAKE DOWN THE BILLBOARD, MR. TOWNSEND. IURC Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission NEXTERA EVIDENTIARY HEARING AT THE STATEHOUSE NEXTERA EVIDENTIARY HEARING AT THE STATEHOUSE delayed again at developer's request |
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