Wind farms arguments: NIMBY versus YIMBY

Jan. 23—Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle will publish over the next several weeks, which will address the pros and cons, the opposition and support for the wind project. Anyone who would like to contribute their thoughts are invited to send them to writtenontheplains@gmail.com Energy needs across the county are accelerating. With less than 5% of the world's population, the United States consumes 16% of the world's energy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The EIA projects U.S. energy consumption increases to continue over the next 20-plus years as population and economic growth outpace energy efficiency gains. In that time, petroleum and other liquids will remain the most-consumed type of fuel.

Fossil fuels are the number one energy source in the U.S. These are non-renewables such as coal, coal products, natural gas, derived gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes.

While natural gas remains the largest source of U.S. electricity generation, renewable sources — wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal, surpassed coal-fired generation in 2022 and surpassed nuclear in 2021.

Renewable energy consumption is expected to increase an average of 3.1% by 2050 and could conceivably provide 29% of U.S. energy consumption, which is more than double of today's 13.1%, according to the EIA.

NIMBY vs YIMBY

In August, the U.S. Department of Energy released reports showing that wind power is one of the fastest growing and lowest cost sources of electricity in America and is poised for rapid growth.

But when that growth comes too close to home NIMBY — Not In My Backyard, comes into play.

In Dickinson County NIMBY is alive and well as people are speaking out against the anticipated Hope Ridge wind park, in the southern portion of the county. Hope Ridge, which is still in the development stage, and platted to cover 95 of the county's 852 square miles.

Citing issues involving pseudoscience implications to healthcare, agriculture, and livestock; fear of property values declining, interruptions to cell signals and weather radar; and a host of other concerns, critics of the plan have spoken out in hopes of preventing the wind farm from taking root.

Whitney Lee was one of several opponents who have spoken to the Dickinson County commissioners to voice her opinion in recent months. At the Nov. 16 commission meeting she addressed several concerns including one she said she could no longer find information on the internet about.

"I wanted to discuss about birds, bats and bees but I don't think you're concerned about those because I'm not even sure you guys are concerned about the citizens in your county," she said speaking to the commissioners. "In 2016, when I first heard about these coming to Dickinson County, I thought it bypasses us. Back then, my mom and I actually did a lot of research on wind turbines and I've actually done a lot more research than probably anyone recently. I can also tell you that we found videos of how earthquakes are caused by wind turbines."

Admittedly, Lee said she cannot find the information she saw seven years ago online now but attributes that to media being "controlled."

On the opposite side of the fence, YIMBY — Yes, In My Backyard, landowners in Dickinson County support the potential of leasing their land to Enel Green Power. Having the right to control what happens on their property is one of the central points of supporters of the wind farm.

"It is important to note that advocating for responsible renewable energy development and safeguarding property rights are not mutually exclusive," said Joyce Rock in a letter to the editor. "Numerous instances exist where renewable energy projects have been successfully implemented, bringing benefits to local economies while respecting the rights of property owners."

Harvesting wind

In Gray and Marion counties wind farms have been a boom to local economies.

Gray County was home to the state's first wind farm, having been brought online in 2001. Since that time, two more added. In lieu of property tax, the wind farm pays the county and the school board a lump sum.

"It's a definite plus," said Orville Williams, a Gray County commissioner.

As the county enters the second 20-year agreement with the FPL Energy's Montezuma wind farm they have learned lessons along the way. His advice for people and counties considering a wind farm is to look over the contracts carefully.

Marion County Commission Chair David Mueller echoed that advice. He said he was in a unique position when the Diamond Vista Wind Farm was built.

"My role was landowner liaison," Mueller said. "I was the go-between between the company and the landowners. Every morning they would have their on-site meeting with all their contractors at 6:30 in the morning. I had to be there, listen to all those meetings. Then I'd go out and talk to landowners who were having any work done on the property. If there were any issues that came to me, I got them to resolve the issue."

As a landowner with turbines on his property, he could see the perspective of both sides.

"Not everybody gets to see the whole picture," he said.

The county also hired an independent contractor to oversee the roadwork and look after their interests. That contractor set down rules, which, if broken, would result in hefty fines. For example, he said there was a delivery route. Any traffic found off that route was issued a $5,000 penalty.

However, that delivery route went down a gravel road and past one landowner whose house was close to the road.

"There were 400 to 500 workers, so we know there could be 1,000 vehicles in and out several in a day; 100 semis every day starting at five in the morning," Mueller said. "That was a horrible experience for that landowner."

A compromise was reached to limit the travel requirement to semis and trucks with trailers. Other traffic was permitted highway access.

He said Enel was also responsible for fixing any roads damaged by the work and make the necessary improvements on those used for deliveries.

"Damage to roads is going to happen during construction," he said. "The roads that they used for their delivery routes, there's actually cement infused into the base so, the gravel roads, the delivery roads are absolutely the best roads in the county, they are phenomenal."

From start to finish a project of this size will take about year. In that time, landowners will see a lot more noise and traffic than they are accustomed to, Mueller said.

However, it won't last long and the benefits pay off for landowners and county residents, said Jon Beck, Hope Ridge Wind Farm development manager.

"With renewable projects you're going to have a huge uptick in construction for a brief period, which is a lot of local spending," he said.

He estimated the company will employ 250 to 300 temporary workers during the construction. After that the wind farm will have roughly 12 to 18 people on the payroll full-time basis.

"You get a lot of great paying jobs added to the area," Beck said. "Extra income for the landowner ... that's a crop that needs no attention from them. It doesn't matter if you're low on rain, doesn't matter what fertilizer costs are. It's a nice way to diversify your land."

The county taxpayer benefits by PILOT — Payment in Lieu of Taxes. Under the PILOT program, Enel gives the county a set amount of dollars per megawatt of wind harvested for the first 10 years. After the 10 years, the county and Enel will renegotiate a new contract.