Costly wind energy is spawning a backlash

I read 'Top stories of the 2010s: Wind energy changing state's energy landscape.” The Gazette reported that 'Iowa … produce(s) more than 30 percent of its energy needs through wind.” Iowa's energy needs go far past electricity. Even now with Iowa's electricity at 40 percent wind energy only 4 to 5 percent of all the energy we consume is provided by wind. Wind turbines only generate power we can use about a quarter of the time according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

MidAmerican Energy will receive $10 billion for about half of the turbines required to bring Iowa residents, only 1 percent of the U.S. population, to 4 to 5 percent of their energy.

Since 2015, 230 (and counting) government entities across the U.S. have banned or blocked industrial wind. There has been vehement backlash most every place industrial wind has sought to build once the citizens learn of the problems associated with these projects. There are a long list of negative impacts for 2,640 feet from any 500 foot wind turbine including noise, shadow flicker, vibration, air turbulence and wake. The wind industry insists on being allowed to build their wind turbines 1,200 to 1,500 from the foundations of neighboring homes.

Janna Swanson

Ayrshire

Coalition for Rural Property Rights