Living ‘in the shadow’ of a wind farm: Harvesting the resource draws mixed responses from Stillwater County residents

Wind turbines now clutter the view at Todd Steinfeldt’s place between Columbus and Reed Point. They are noticeable during the day but their pulsing red lights at night are more egregious.

For the past three decades, major wind farms have been sprouting up across the Treasure State. Wind developers hope to see many more turbines in the years ahead. But some Montanans are pushing back — saying the giant turbines spoil their views of Big Sky Country, harm the environment and are not worth the costs. In this five-part series, reporters from APG newspapers in Glendive, Miles City, Columbus, Stanford and Lewistown take an in-depth look at the past, present and future of wind energy in Montana.

Residents of Stillwater County are used to buffeting winds. But not all are used to — or favor — the local wind farms that harvest those air currents.

For some, the giant turbines are “out of sight, out of mind.” For others, the towers represent a means for saving the ranch. And then there are those who rage against the towers for desecrating their wide-open views.

The prosSven Svenson ranks among those who have lived in the shadow of Pattern Energy’s Stillwater Wind since 2018. Of the company’s 31 turbines — which provide power equivalent to the needs of 23,000 households — 18 are located on his place. And he can’t say enough good about his experience.

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said. “Now I can afford to farm and ranch.”

Svenson runs 450 goats, more than 350 sheep and, counting heifers, more than 600 head of cattle on his place. He also farms hay to feed his herds. Though the payment he receives from Pattern doesn’t match what he makes from his livestock, it’s a hefty amount that keeps his operation afloat.

“It’s not equal,” he said. “But it still makes ranching a little more fun.”

Though ranchers are typically reticent about revealing herd sizes and dollar figures, Svenson offered — without being asked — that he gets a six-digit check every year, for the next 18 years (the remainder of his 25-year contract). Of course, that amount could run anywhere from $100,000 to $999,999 but either way it’s a sizable chunk. Prior to the wind farm’s construction, he was leasing to the company for $1 an acre.

When asked about turbine noise, Svenson had no issue — perhaps because the closest tower is roughly two miles from his home.

“I can hear more noise from the interstate and the railroad,” he said. “Unless you’re right under them (turbines)…they hum right along.”

As for bird kill, he states that only one bird has been killed during the entire operation of 31 turbines over six years. He adds that a pair of eagles nested on his property before the wind farm and “they’re still there and doing fine.”

Regarding impacts on grazing stock, Svenson said it’s actually been a positive. When the company revegetated disturbed areas, he asked them to add alfalfa to the grass mix.

“The cattle love it and the deer and elk are under them all the time,” he said.

Now going on seven years living “in the shadow” of a producing wind farm, Svenson said there was nothing he’d change about his original contract.

“Everything worked out to my total satisfaction,” he said. “The only thing I can say is, I wish there were more of them (turbines).”

Peggy Mothershead, whose property borders Svenson’s, agrees with her neighbor — but in fewer words. She’s moved to town and no longer lives on her section, which hosts seven of Stillwater Wind’s turbines, but she speaks about her experience in glowing terms.

“At this point, we’re all very happy with the way things are going,” she said.

And for those who complain?

“The only reason the neighbors hate these is they’re not on their property,” Svenson said. “If they had five or six on their property, they’d be smiling like I am.”

And the consTodd Steinfeldt, who lives several miles from the windfarm, rejects the idea that he’d jump at the opportunity to have a few on his place.

“If someone approached me, no,” he said, adding that the wind farms have a potential to create rancor between the haves and the have-nots.

“I think it could really divide people,” he said. “Maybe not to the point where you couldn’t talk to your neighbor. But there are ranchers out there who make a living without windmills.”

During a meeting last summer, as a second wind farm was being built in the area, a number of landowners told the county commissioners that the new project is repeating the problems they lived with during construction of Stillwater Wind: degradation of roads, obnoxious contractors and a steady flow of construction traffic.

At that meeting, Ed May blamed the Beaver Creek Windfarm (a newer project, not yet online) for destroying the view from his home.

“Make no mistake — our horizon, our beautiful views, and our peaceful neighborhoods are forevermore trashed,” he said. “No amount of money can make that OK.”

Steinfeldt shares May’s concern. When he and his wife Audrey now look to the north, their once unobstructed view faces a cluster of towers that stand taller than a football field is long. And at night, the once-dark horizon pulses with red beacon warning lights.

“I sure don’t like looking out and seeing those blinking lights at night,” he said. “And looking at them (towers) in the day, they’re a whole lot of steel and fiberglass. They’re not intriguing to me.”

But Steinfeldt’s main grudges revolve around economics and motives. He’s done considerable research and can’t see how, at the price electricity is currently selling, the wind farms are paying off. He suspects they serve as tax breaks for LLCs and other large investment firms.

“They get tax credits and (benefit from) government tax incentive programs,” he said. “It’s a win-win for these companies.”

Steinfeldt also questions how “green” wind farms really are.

“I’m not against a clearner environment,” he said, “but has anybody ever explained the total carbon footprint of a wind turbine? My problem with wind farms is why can’t there be honest dialogue?”

Steinfeldt corroborates Svenson’s take regarding wildlife. He, too, has seen herds of elk bunched up around the towers’ bases, grazing.

But what about property rights?

That’s a conundrum, Steinfeldt concedes.

“I don’t blame him (Svenson). He’s getting paid for it,” he said. “But I’m not sure if that’s what ranching is supposed to be. And at what point is that invading your privacy?”

Right now the Steinfeldts’ view to the Crazies remains unobstructed. But, considering there’s still plenty of acres ripe for wind development, they worry about the future.

“Every day we go home and look at those windmills. It never goes away,” he said. “At night we look out and see all those blinking lights. Where is it going to stop?”