Landowners' concerns over future wind farm

Fergus Falls, Minn. (WDAY TV) - A proposed 40 turbine wind farm in Otter Tail County is causing local landowners to take their concerns straight to the otter tail county board. Each farmer and business owner gave a different reason why the board should reconsider allowing the turbines to move in or even create laws to make sure each are put in the right place.

Fred Liljegren is one of many who live close to where a proposed 40-turbine wind far may be put up by Prairie Wind LLC. Board members listened to 20 solid minutes of concerns. Liljegren says the board needs to look at problems from other wind farms. Like the one north of Valley City. Homeowners there are complaining the turbines are too loud.

"And the impacts that those noises have on people, loss of sleep, sleep interruption, depression, and anxiety."

Others like potato farmer Rodney Peterson says the proposed project would take away almost 300 acres of valuable growing land because crop dusters aren't able to fly through the turbines.

"Take time and money away from my aerial applicator's business and take a portion of my business."

"It’ll clutter the space that we work in."

Hearing these issues was Land and Resource Director Bill Kalar, who says this is the first time that a propeller can fly a half a mile if it breaks.

“Concern with what happens if the tower falls down or what happens if the blade comes off."

These land, home, and business owners say they aren't against putting wind farms up to produce energy, putting them in the right place, far enough away from homes, and not on precious crop land is what they hope the board takes a hard look at.

The county is looking at wind farm ordinances in Clay and Grant counties to possibly make guidelines about where turbines can go before they OK the go-ahead on the Parkers Prairie wind farm.

Tags: reporter stories, stephanie goetz, fergus falls, wind, energy, business, home