POWER Coalition
Moves to Block Jasper County, Indiana Wind Projects
Our Purpose
A diverse group of organizations has joined forces to oppose proposed projects in Jasper County that threaten homeowners' and neighboring non-participant farmers' rights, safety, property values and our military's airspace above Jasper County.
The mission of the POWER Coalition (Protecting Our land, Water, Environment, and Rights) is to highlight the broad opposition to proposed wind turbines up to 570 feet high industrial wind turbines in Jasper County.
Our Members
POWER Coalition members include:
Northeast Indiana Base Community Council in support of Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing
Indiana Agricultural Aviation Association (IAAA)
Marine Riders North Central Indiana
Jim Wiegand, wildlife biologist
Merrill Morey, M.D.
Dr. Steve Jennings
Dr. Kathleen Oldfather, DVM
John Droz, Jr., physicist and founder of AWED (Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions)
Save the Eagles International
Hoosier Whitetail Hunting Success and Management
Indiana Flying Farmers
International Flying Farmers
Gutwein Hallmark Airport, Culp Airport, Plummer Airport
Miami, Cass, Pulaski, Jasper and Fulton County Property Rights citizens groups
Indiana Wind Watch
Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition (IICC)
Coalition for Rural Property Rights
- Gregg Hubner, real estate appraiser and author of Paradise Destroyed: The Destruction of Rural Living by the Wind Energy Scam
Our Reasons
Each member organization opposes this project based on one or more of the following concerns:
The uncompensated taking of land as safety easements constitutes the taking of non-participants’ property and rights. A safety manual for the exact wind turbine model being installed must be demanded of the manufacturer, and setbacks to property lines for the evacuation zone in the event of malfunction must be written in the wind ordinance to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Jasper County residents. The evacuation zone around a wind turbine should never be over homes or on non-participant property.
Increased noise levels for residents and the high possibility of chronic sleep loss, headaches, tinnitus, vertigo and other negative health impacts for children, families, and the elderly. Many residents will experience shadow flicker in their homes and on their property. Children and adults with autism and sensory processing disorders are especially vulnerable. Zero shadow flicker and a lowered decibel limit commensurate with the World Health Organization's 2018 guidelines should be adhered to in the wind ordinance.
Studies show wind projects negatively impact neighboring non-participants’ property values.
The project area in Jasper County is the Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing’s primary military operations area (since 1950). Obstructions should not be permitted in this area as the loss of this practice area will drive them from their primary practice air space which can result result in the loss of jobs in northern Indiana if the base is compromised.
The safety of private pilots and agricultural aviators (crop dusters) will be compromised.
Obstructions can make rescue helicopter teams’ work reaching accident victims more dangerous.
The project will have a negative impact on large populations of birds and bats including our growing American bald eagle population, endangered whooping crane, sandhill crane, barn owl, endangered Indiana bat and threatened northern long-eared bat.
Wind turbine fires can ignite grass and field fires with the potential to spread to homes. Firefighters cannot reach a fire 50-60 stories in the air.
Wind turbines will visually degrade the land and even after decommissioning, large amounts of concrete and rebar will be left in the soil.
The project can fragment habitats and disrupt hunting opportunities as sound, flicker and infrasound reportedly drive away wildlife.
Studies are being conducted in Chatham-Kent, Ontario in project areas where vibrations caused by wind tower construction near homes likely damaged wells and dangerous sediments were found in water sources. Access to clean, safe, drinkable water for families cannot be compromised.
It is the position of all POWER Coalition members that renewable energy is important, but no energy project should ever be free of assessing and balancing ALL its impacts on other vital aspects of our environment, economy and quality of life.
The POWER Coalition acknowledges the importance of standards for the proper siting of these projects based on eliminating or significantly mitigating the negative aspects any project might present. Permits filed under the currently proposed wind ordinance will fail to meet these standards and should be rejected.