Seems there is a wee bit of a problem in Maine. Or, should I say so you can hear me, A WEE BIT OF A PROBLEM IN MAINE
Like nearly all of the residents on this island in Penobscot Bay, Art Lindgren and his wife, Cheryl, celebrated the arrival of three giant wind turbines late last year. That was before they were turned on.
“In the first 10 minutes, our jaws dropped to the ground,†Mr. Lindgren said. “Nobody in the area could believe it. They were so loud.â€
Now, the Lindgrens, along with a dozen or so neighbors living less than a mile from the $15 million wind facility here, say the industrial whoosh-and-whoop of the 123-foot blades is making life in this otherwise tranquil corner of the island unbearable.
They are among a small but growing number of families and homeowners across the country who say they have learned the hard way that wind power — a clean alternative to electricity from fossil fuels — is not without emissions of its own.
Lawsuits and complaints about turbine noise, vibrations and subsequent lost property value have cropped up in Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Massachusetts, among other states.
In one case in DeKalb County, Ill., at least 38 families have sued to have 100 turbines removed from a wind farm there. A judge rejected a motion to dismiss the case in June.
Now, for myself, this doesn’t turn me completely off on wind power. But, there is a place for everything, and, obviously, these are not the best places. Out in wide waterways or other areas where people can’t hear them are great. Near where people live. NOT SO GREAT.
Meanwhile, wind farms may change the weather (which creates climate). And, hey, look, wind farms cause night warming. Eh. I’m still in favor, but, like I wrote, in the right places. Oh, and near where Al Gore, James Cameron, and other alarmists live. We could put a whole bunch up in deep blue cities.
