LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Ryan Martin, Seward County

As I sit here writing this, I have to wonder: has the will and voice of the people been lost? Growing up, when difficult or debatable issues arose, we were always taught to contact our senator or write our congressman. We were told our voices mattered. I would like to believe that is still true at the state and national levels, but I’m beginning to wonder if it still holds value locally.

One of the major topics in Seward County right now is the proposed wind turbine farm in the northeast corner of the county. For quite some time, it seemed to remain under the radar until the issue came to light last summer. Once it did, many citizens began voicing serious concerns: sound, shadow flicker, vibration, impacts on property values for rural residences, setbacks from neighboring homes, wildlife effects, and simply the reality of looking out your back door at a 600-foot turbine.

Citizens began contacting Planning and Zoning and the Seward County Commissioners asking, begging, and pleading for their concerns to be considered. The first step in the process was the Conditional Use Permit, which allows property to be used in ways not normally permitted under zoning regulations.

Many residents emailed and called Planning and Zoning members, sharing concerns and information from other wind farm communities across the country. Dec. 8, citizens were invited to speak. The meeting began with attorneys from the Chicago based wind development company Invenergy presenting the benefits of the project. Afterward, citizens were each given three minutes to voice concerns about issues such as setbacks from homes, lighting impacts, and long term decommissioning of turbines.

Once citizens finished speaking, Invenergy’s attorneys were allowed unlimited time for rebuttal. No decision was made that night, and the topic was tabled for future meetings, meetings where no further public comment was allowed.

Between Dec. 8 and Feb. 9, citizens continued sending emails, videos, and information to Planning and Zoning members showing concerns experienced by other communities, including residents forced to move and reported effects on livestock. One Seward County resident living in the proposed wind farm area shared deep concern about his special-needs daughter, who is highly sensitive to vibration and other potential effects. He explained that if the turbines were built, he might have to uproot his family and move.

One would think that a board whose purpose is to protect the health and well-being of county residents would take such concerns seriously.

However, on Feb. 9, the Planning and Zoning Board voted on the Conditional Use Permit written by the wind development company Invenergy. With no public discussion and no board discussion, the members entered executive session twice. When they returned, they voted 3-2 to approve the permit, with minor adjustments such as increasing the setback from 1,000 feet to 1,900 feet even though citizens had requested a two mile set back.

During the vote, three board members stated they did not find any health concerns with wind turbines, even while looking directly at the Seward County resident who had spoken about his special-needs child.

I find this deeply troubling.

Now the decision moves to the Seward County Board of Commissioners. I firmly believe the voice of the people must be heard. The potential impacts of these turbines are long-lasting, some literally permanent, such as the thousands of tons of concrete foundations left buried in the ground.

The list of concerns is long. The list of benefits is short. Financial gain would largely go to a small number of landowners, and currently 26 of the 41 landowners in the proposed area do not even live in Seward County.

Invenergy is a development company. They will not be here long-term. Most wind projects are sold within a few years after completion once tax credits and subsidies are collected.

So now we return to Seward County. From the beginning, I have believed that roughly 70 percent of county residents oppose a wind farm here. Many have gone to great lengths to share their concerns, yet many feel those concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

Now that the decision is moving to the Board of County Commissioners, I believe there should be open discussion, and frankly, I believe the issue should be put to a public vote. I have attended county commission meetings and have yet to hear meaningful discussion about the proposed wind farm. My fear is that it will simply be brought to a vote with little public comment or transparency.

This is our county. The citizens who live here should have a say in its future.

I encourage every resident to contact not only their own county commissioner, but all of them. Ask questions. Share your concerns. Make your voice heard.

This is Seward County, not Invenergy County. We owe them nothing more than a polite “thank you, but no thank you.”

So I ask again:

Where is the representation of the people?