SHELBY -- Aside from growing corn, soybeans and wheat and raising swine on a 70-acre Shelby farm for 15 years, Roger Baird may have something else shoot up on his property next year: a 262-foot wind turbine.

"I like the idea of being able to produce green energy," Baird, 48, said about his decision to lease part of his land to a Colorado firm for the turbine.

The turbines have inspired spirited opposition in rural Richland and Crawford counties.

Karel and Jim Davis, who have lived on a 6-acre plot across from Baird's farm for 35 years, have placed "No Wind Turbine" signs on their front yard on Champion Road.

"We don't want our property to feel like an industrial park," said Jim Davis, 65. "But we think they're well-meaning people."

Construction for wind turbines is expected to begin in July 2010. The plan is setting off increasingly pointed discussions across rural Shelby and northern Crawford County. Gary Energetics, a Colorado alternative energy firm, began signing contracts with property owners two years ago. They have signed on 112.

Plans include building 158 turbines capable of generating 350 megawatts, enough to power about 70,000 homes, said David Hettich, a vice president with the company.

"There's been a lot of mistruths and scare tactics that have been put out there," Hettich said.

Cathy Price, who lives near the county border, said up to a dozen turbines could surround her 5-acre property.

"They just don't produce the amount of electricity that they are saying," said Price, 47. "Right now I live in rural America, but with this I might as well move to downtown Columbus."

Hettich said the company promises to keep the turbines 1,250 feet away from homes. He also dismisses the claim some make that their property values will shrink.

"Who would want to live next a bunch of giant turbines?" said Karel Davis, who bought her home for $50,000 in 1974. The Richland County auditor pegs the property's current value at triple the purchase price.

Hettich said there's no evidence wind turbines lower property values. However, no one knows for certain because there's not enough data.

Baird said if the turbine is built he may get a boost.

"If it's something that's generating income, that might be a plus," Baird said.

"We didn't sign right away," Baird said. "We got something in the mail originally about two years ago and just kind of let it sit."

Eventually, Gary representatives visited to talk Baird and his wife, Teresa, into it. They came again. And again.

He finally signed in March. The financial details of each contract are confidential, but Hettich said farmers who lease their land can typically expect to make $16,000 to $20,000 per year, per turbine. Ultimately, the company will have signed more property owners than needed, to give themselves flexibility. That means the Bairds, in the end, may not get a turbine at all, which probably would make neighbors happy.

"The (neighbors have) definitely expressed their concern," Baird said.