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Locals running against the wind
Aesthetic factors are a big concern as well. Norman Schmidt, also a St. Joseph area artist, says he was initially intrigued by the idea of wind energy because he thought it would be a way to become less dependent on the grid.
But upon further investigation, he too became convinced that the giant structures would mar the beauty and tranquility of the landscape. "We do not want to see our beloved prairie destroyed for the sake of monetary gain," Schmidt says. He proposes that the government encourage the use of small-scale wind turbines on farmsteads with tax incentives so that people could decrease dependency on the grid and free up energy for others.
August 31, 2007
by Lori Penner
in Red River Valley Echo
A number of St. Joseph residents are not impressed with the proposed wind project in the area.
BowArk Energy Ltd. plans to begin Phase 1 of the St. Joseph Wind Project next summer. When completed, there will be 43 wind turbines dotting 19,000 acres of countryside. They'll be hard to miss, since they stand about 30 stories tall.
About 120 landowners in the R.M. of Montcalm have already signed land lease contracts, allowing the developers to use their land in exchange for a wind farm revenue or a flat fee.
Phase 2 will involve an additional 10,000 acres, with over 100... [continue via Web link]
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