An Open Letter from a Resident of Van Wert, Ohio

The following letter, written by Steve Rusk of Van Wert, Ohio, is one resident's experience with life inside a wind project's "footprint". It addresses some of the intangible factors in assessing damage to property values and health for residents living in a wind industrial zone.

3/29/2013

Hello, I used to live in the Blue Creek Wind Farm at 10038 Elm Sugar Rd. Scott, Ohio. In July 2012 the bank sold my home at considerable loss for $16,500, down from a prewind farm appraised value of $73,000. This devaluation wasn't due to any obvious aesthetic damage the property had suffered nor the fact that no one looking to move to the country wants to live in an industrial zone. This depreciation was caused by the risk factors associated with living there, primarily infrasound exposure. Besides adverse health effects, selling a residence in a wind farm is also risky. Failure to to call out the presence of infrasound can result in a lawsuit, even declaring it's presence may not be enough protection. When the property owner participates in the sale the owner assumes most if not all of the risk and the bank is protected.

Lack of regulation means there are no established standards for safe levels of exposure to infrasound, any exposure must be recognized as dangerous. Lack of regulation also means there are no laws to compel the wind farm companies to tell you their machines produce it. The wind farms generate an ambient area of infrasound extending well beyond their boundaries with roving hot zones depending on wind speed, direction, turbine placement, etc. Due to the large number of variables actual infrasound levels can be determined only by extensive mapping of the site after the wind farm is in operation.

Blade thump is produced when a wind turbine blade tip passes the supporting pylon at approximately 200 mph. The pressure buildup that occurs, in addition to auditory noise levels, generates an inaudible burst of infrasound that comes out essentially as a beam spreading outward into a fan shaped area at ground level, at right angles to wind direction in the direction of blade rotation. Reaching out to a mile or more with lesser amounts going in the opposite direction, the intensity and area depending on blade speed and other factors. These bursts penetrate all structures, we lack the technology to protect buildings from infrasound penetration. These infrasound fields are hot zones, when 2, 3 or more fields overlap one another you have intensely hot areas. At a top operating speed of 19 RPM with 3 blades, that is 57 bursts per minute being generated by each and every wind turbine in operation. Each pulse passing through your body like a shock wave acting as a hammer on every cell, whenever the turbines are in operation. Nerve cells are most easily injured by this effect, developing nerve cells much more so. There are serious health risks even for healthy adults living with frequent exposure to infrasound and especially for children, the elderly and individuals with various health conditions.

Once symptoms develop it may be too late for some and even short term exposure may result in lasting effects on some children. The quarter mile setbacks currently required are point blank for exposure to the infrasound generated by wind turbines.

To those of you living near the wind turbines or about to be, please note one simple fact: We live in a society that doesn't change it's ways until the body count gets high enough... sometimes not even then.

There are two things happening right now: 

1. The wind farm companies will intensify ongoing lobbying efforts to obtain protection from lawsuits (Torte Reform). Specifically, protection from the class action lawsuit which is what the wind farms are.

2. Residential properties in or near wind farms are toxic assets, as the news spreads banks will cease making loans on these homes and those potentially so.

Thank you,
Steve Rusk
Van Wert, Ohio

Wind Projects are Dependent on Extending the Tax Credit

If you believe the PTC should NOT be extended, it's important that you fax or call each of these lawmakers tomorrow, this weekend, and Monday. It is important to contact these legislators right now. A fax or call is more direct than email. Urge these lawmakers to NOT extend the PTC. Go to these websites to find reasons why http://ptcfacts.info/ http://www.wind-watch.org/ Go to this website to send 5 free faxes per day http://faxzero.com/ If you can, fax or call the office of each of these lawmakers:

Steve King 
Phone:  202.225.4426
Fax:  202.225.3193

Duncan Hunter
Phone:  (202) 225-5672 

Tim Johnson
Phone:  202-225-2371
Fax: 202-226-0791

Cory Gardner
Phone:  (202) 225-4676
Fax:  (202) 225-5870

Cynthia Lummis
Phone:  (202) 225-2311
Toll Free:  (888) 879-3599
Fax: (202) 225-3057

Diane Black
Phone:  (202) 225-4231
Fax:  (202) 225-6887

Jim Gerlach
202.225.4315tel202.225.8440faxhttp://gerlach.house.gov/
Wally Hergerphone:  (202) 225-3076fax: (202) 226-0852

Frank Guinta
Phone:  (202) 225-5456
Fax:  (202) 225-5822

Sam Johnson
 (202) 225-4201

Vern Buchanan
Phone:  (202) 225-5015  • Fax:  (202) 226-0828

Randy Neugebauer
Phone:  (202) 225-4005
Fax:  (202) 225-9615

Eric Cantor
Phone:  (202) 225-2815
Fax:  (202) 225-0011

Gus Bilirakis
ph:  202-225-5755
fx: 202-225-4085

Lynn Jenkins 
Phone:  (202) 225-6601
Fax:  (202) 225-7986

Jeff Flake
phone:
 (202) 225-2635
fax:
(202) 226-4386
http://flake.house.gov/

John Yarmuth
 202-225-5401 FAX 202-225-5776

Rick Berg
Phone:  
202-225-2611


Aaron Schock
T: 
 202.225.6201 
F: 
202.225.9249

Pete Sessions
P:  (202) 225-2231
F: (202) 225-5878

Steve Southerland
Phone:  (202) 225-5235
Fax:  (202) 225-5615

Daniel Webster
(202) 225-2176 F (202) 225-0999

Devin Nunes
Main: (202) 225-2523 Fax: (202) 225-3404

David Schweikert
Phone:  (202) 225-2190
Fax: (202) 225-0096

Michael Turner
Phone:  (202) 225-6465
Fax: (202) 225-6754

Tom Price
Phone:  202-225-4501
Fax:  202-225-4656


Senators

Tim Johnson (D)
p.  (202) 224-5842
f. (202) 228-5765

Rob Portman
Phone:  202-224-3353

Mark Kirk
Phone:  202-224-2854 
Fax: 202-228-4611 

Mark Warner
TOLL FREE:  1-877-676-2759
[VA residents only]

Phone:  202-224-2023
Fax:  202-224-6295

John Thune
Phone:  (202) 224-2321
Fax:  (202) 228-5429
Toll-Free: 

Jon Kyl
Phone:  (202) 224-4521
Fax:  (202) 224-2207