I am not pro or con windmill. My beliefs are we should allow wind turbine generators in selected areas. These areas should not have any residential development in the proximity of such areas. Nobody should have to live in an industrial wind farm area, with noise, shadow flicker, and other ill affects these up-to-500-feet-tall wind turbines are known to cause.

Would we put a pig farm next to a grocery store or a strip club next to a church? They don’t fit together any better than square pegs in round holes, nor do industrial wind turbines and family homes.

Your township board is aggressively working with industrial wind developers to tailor our zoning to suit their needs. The zoning covers the township as a whole and affects everyone. Could one of these wind turbines be going in your backyard? A couple of years ago the planning commission and township board did adopt zoning on Large Wind Energy Conversion System with the help of an independent, third party planner. Taxpayers’ dollars were used to allow wind power and yet protect citizens. At the time the majority involved thought it was good for all. Now some of our board members want to change the ordinance to promote wind turbines with the promise of jobs and tax dollars to our community. This seems to be a good idea. How many jobs will actually be created in our community? Will the wind turbines be tax exempt? Where will these wind turbines be located? Answers would make decisions easier to make. With seven to 10 truckloads of materials in each wind turbine and talk of 40 turbines, that could mean 300 to 400 truckloads of freight coming into our area. I guess that could help some local trucking companies. With the location of wind turbines, will anyone in the decision-making process benefit? There seems to be an ulterior motive to get them here right now.

Township policies have not been followed in the process. Freedom of Information Act requests have not been followed. Township meeting schedules have been deviated from. I believe even one township employee of over 12 years has been let go to assure a smooth road for industrial wind language changes. Now is the time for every citizen of Rudyard Township to get involved and get the facts for yourselves. If a referendum comes before voters of Rudyard Township, should we not know firsthand the facts and issues involved. Yes, we have the Internet and with a click of a button we can see what others are going through. Why put ourselves through something that can be prevented?

There is a Rudyard Township Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, February 23, at 7 p.m. at the Rudyard Township Hall. Wind turbines will be a topic of discussion. Come see what is happening in your backyard. Hope to see you at the meetings.

Perry Ross

Rudyard