Lots of wind turbine questions

Dear Editor,

The Wisconsin  State Constitution legally obligates government officials to protect the health, safety and well being of their community and the properties involved in the installation of wind turbines.  

The footings that will be put in the ground in our Waldwick area to hold the proposed 700' wind turbines would be 40 to 50 feet deep and 40 to 50 feet square with tons of rebar and cement going into the ground which will have a significant effect on our water tables.  These water tables would also effect neighboring family properties.  The noise effect of these large turbines is and will also cause a problem.  I recently talked to a man with a family farm over by Darlington who reports having sleep deprivation while the turbines are turning.  He can no longer enjoy sitting on his porch and needs to keep his windows closed. Wind turbines are also known to effect wild life.  Two pairs of supposedly protected mature eagles were seen last week in the field by the Bethel United Methodist Church.  How many eagles & other birds have been killed so far by these wind turbines?  Deer hunting will also become scarce in our area.  

These 700' wind turbines would be like building an eight story building.  I talked to farmers at two locations in Darlinton who said their cows no longer produced milk once the turbines were installed and up and running so he had to get rid of them because they were so stressed out.   Another farmer over by Waldwick has some beautiful beef cattle, and I mean beautiful, he is having four of those turbines installed on his property.  Also, across the road there will be a large substation installed.  Imagine how much stray voltage will come into play on his farm?  At night I wouldn't be surprised if his beef cattle would light up like a Christmas tree because of stray voltage.  When I was young my first job was with Madison Gas & Electric: at first as an apprentice lineman, then after training a journeyman lineman so I know all about stray voltage.  

I feel so bad for our Driftless Region and what these ugly wind turbines bring to our beautiful area.  Will our tourism change, how about all the health concerns - they could be enormous due to the quality of our water, noise pollution (will your children be able to play outside safely due to the Radon emissions (cancer))?  Property values will drop significantly, also, the integrity of our beautiful rich black soil and, if you have vertigo you may have to endure massive migraine headaches.        

To summarize I feel so strongly that these wind generator turbines represent negative agriculture, environmental, aesthetic  principles, and also degrade our community's character of who we are and how the majority of us want to live.

The Pattern Company Development Manager Michael Goff is not a friend of my family and I hope he is not of yours.  He will answer questions his way and will bulldoze his way across your property to fit his agenda and profit from your ignorance of what is about to happen in our area if we do not try to stop the permitting process.  

Your Governor, Tony Evers (608) 266-1212, State Senator, Howard Marklein (608) 266-0703, and State Representative 51st District Todd Novak  (608) 237-9151along with the Public Service Commission (PSA) employees should be made aware of Michael Goff and the Pattern's development plans, contracts, permits, etc.  Please voice your opposition now.  

The next special Waldwick Township meeting is next Monday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall on 39 for all to attend.  I understand there will be "No Pattern Representative".  This meeting is for all of us to get together to discuss and attempt to make a plan of action to try to stop Wind Turbines being put up in our area now and forever!  

John Christianson

Waldwick, WI