147 Wind Turbines nearby.... A neighbors prospective.

[Wes Tex]

I'm not sure what to think of this and wonder if my first instinct of not liking it is warranted....

147 wind turbines will be be installed on a ranch located within 10 miles of my ranch. They of course have chosen a large mesa that is about 400 ft. above average elevation and I'm sure the wind farm will be visible from parts of my ranch. We live in a part of Texas popular for these types of operations as it is known for constant winds (West Texas).

Several years ago when they were putting up the first wind farm in this area I thought it was OK. This is especially true since it would not affect me but now, I dunno. The first one they put up some 20 miles west of me can be seen for miles since it is located atop a long running mesa and I can tell you that in my opinion, it's a blight upon the land. The new one won't be close enough for me to hear the turbines and that's good but I'm pretty sure we'll be able to see it clearly from at least part of our land. It's kind of a drag to have spent the time and money on our ranch with the appeal being that we were way out from any large town and didn't have to worry about civilization encroaching on it just to see these ugly wind turbines on the horizon. This part of Texas is known for its outstanding long range views. I respect the ability and right of landowners to do with their land as they see fit and I'm glad they're dragging down some nice jack from the lease money but I can't help feeling like they are being somewhat selfish in that they benefit from the monetary gain and the rest of us (neighbors) lose at least a part of our scenic views with no compensation. Land owners in this part of the country (and I suspect this is generally true all over the US) have always been careful not to do things that have an adverse affect on neighboring ranches. This age old courtesy seems to have taken a back seat to the monetary gains of only a few. Don't misunderstand, I need nor want any compensation since to me this isn't about money. In fact, I recently turned down an offer to drill on my land as I don't want ANY kind of industrial development on my land, that's not why I bought it some several years ago.

I realize that development of alternative sources of energy is a good thing and that we all may have to contribute to that in some way or another but man, these things are huge and when they are placed atop long running mesas, they can be seen for miles. I guess I'll know soon enough exactly how I feel about it when they start popping up on the northern horizon. Tell ya one thing, I'm sure as heck glad that I don't live right next door to them.

So, am I whining or is this a legit concern? What do y'all think?

Wes Tex

[tardfarmer]

If a couple of them were put up by private citizens on their own land it wouldn't be a big deal.

But the government getting involved beyond a research project is stupid. Compared to coal or nuke plants, those wind farms are a HUGE waste of space, they're ugly and still require a gasoline generator backup.

I don't know why they just don't build more nuke plants!

[etothepii]

Do you think people minded the first "unsightly" telephone poles and all the wires everywhere? What about the current upspring of cell phone towers?

Is it just the sight that bothers you? Some people can see industrial smoke stacks from their peoperty. In parts of Ohio, you can see a nuclear energy plant from your window.

I think you're right for not liking it, but like everyone throughout history, you'll probably have to learn to accept it.[&:]

[vc1111]

I can't help feeling like they are being somewhat selfish in that they benefit from the monetary gain and the rest of us (neighbors) lose at least a part of our scenic views with no compensation.

Could anything be more subjective? The local law in your area addressed this long ago or it would not be happening. Zoning laws, commercial construction codes, designated buffer zones, residential deed restrictions, or the lack of any of the above...communities are either planned or they are not. Its up to the locals in concert with the lawmakers to decide or pay the consequences for failing to do so.

[kevin1]

You may also not be realizing the attractive part of them ,
if they will be serving the local area you might just see a nice reduction on your electric bill .

Windmill farms are normally placed on mesas as you described , and generally in rural areas or other remote places because other places(Martha's Vineyard) don't want them , or there isn't space for them available . Personally , if I got free juice out of the deal they could put one in my backyard . I knew a guy in Kookifornia who bought one to put on his property for the low cost juice , and then got approached by the local utility who wanted to buy his surplus power . He still has an electric meter , but now it tells him how much he's made rather than spent . If you've ever been to Alberquerque they have them on the high mesas outside of town , and they really don't look that bad .

[etothepii]

still require a gasoline generator backup.

Isn't that only for areas with inconsistant winds? (You're the engineer, so I'll take your word for it.)

[tardfarmer]

Isn't that only for areas with inconsistant winds? (You're the engineer, so I'll take your word for it.)

Yup,

Which is actually most places. I would assume a mesa is pretty consistent though.

But i still don't understand why they don't build more nukes, they're highly efficient, take up less space and per square foot beat this wind stuff by (guessing) a factor of several million in output.

[etothepii]

But i still don't understand why they don't build more nukes, they're highly efficient, take up less space and per square foot beat this wind stuff by (guessing) a factor of several million in output.

Hey, I'm with you on that one.

[kevin1]

ORIGINAL: tardfarmer

Yup,

Which is actually most places. I would assume a mesa is pretty consistent though.

But i still don't understand why they don't build more nukes, they're highly efficient, take up less space and per square foot beat this wind stuff by (guessing) a factor of several million in output.

Since I work for the company that made the underground supports for Yucca Mtn. , and probably will for most future sites , let me ask you this:

Can I store all the waste that those nuke plants will generate in your backyard ?

I didn't think so , the citizens of Nevada aren't thrilled either . I'm not thrilled that truck and train loads will pass within just a few miles from my home , and neither is anyone else on the proposed routes . Let's not even touch on the terrorist probabilities of that proposed transport system . Until a way can be found to either neutralize the waste or shoot it into the sun we really shouldn't support that technology , it's just too risky for what we would gain .

Chernobyl and Three Mile Island were just the precursors of what can happen , and they weren't even worst case scenarioes .

[etothepii]

Can I store all the waste that those nuke plants will generate in your backyard ?

Is th Yucca mnt range really someone's back yard? No, its remote, chosen because of

Chernobyl and Three Mile Island

. Can't have the argument both ways.