Posted Dec. 16, 2013 @ 11:00 am
The Register Star recently published an article entitled "Boone County's delayed wind talks cost stakeholders time, money." In the article, Jennifer Wheeler correctly points out that the upcoming County Board vote will "either clear the way for a wind farm or almost certainly stop the idea dead in its tracks."
Indeed, the proposed zoning that will be up for a vote could not only stop the presently proposed wind farm, but would effectively close Boone County as a whole to any future wind farm development. Thus, much is at stake in this decision. As a long time resident of Boone County, I think it is a shame that the County Board would consider such a backwards looking ordinance.
Wind power is a clean, safe, and sustainable development opportunity for the county and the nation. The proposed development would bring green jobs to the area as well as desperately needed property tax revenue to our schools. As Wheeler wrote, it could bring between one and two million dollars annually to Boone County. Moreover, unlike coal, gas, oil and nuclear power, it is not going to cause adverse health effects like asthma and cancer.
We need to guard against misinformation on this subject. There are no proven negative health effect from wind power. Environmental studies are required to minimize or eliminate harm to wildlife. I urge the Boone County Board to vote against the proposed ordinance which would impose crippling setback requirements on wind farms.
— David F. Black, Belvidere
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20131216/OPINION/131219589/0/SEARCH#ixzz2nhlhSVqV
Posted Dec. 16, 2013 @ 12:00 pm
In response to Jennifer Wheeler's article "Boone County's delayed wind talks cost stakeholders time, money." I am new to Belvidere and Boone County, but not new to the issue of renewable sources of energy. What I see as the primary issue is breaking the stronghold that big oil and big utility companies (nuclear power) have over the tax holders.Enough is known about coal and other fossil fuels in relation to public health like asthma and cancer. The disaster at Fukashima Japan is just beginning to be known and its health impact will be felt in the west as it has been in Japan. As a father of four grown children I want a world free of pollution and free of multinational corporations dictating a price for energy.Wind and other renewables give the citizens of Boone County an opportunity to locally have an impact on possibly setting a price for their energy. As a registered voter in Belvidere my vote will hinge on the elected official who will make it easier for wind farms to be installed with the least amount of zoning regulations.— Robert James-Pechacek, Belvidere
