FREEBORN COUNTY, MN - You see them all over our area. Now, some neighbors in a southern Minnesota county are worried about wind turbines coming to their community. Some say the proposed project is not safe.
Going green could mean a crop of wind turbines in north Freeborn County.
"About this wind turbine farm and I said....it's good. It's wind energy," Katie Troe said.
Alliant Energy wants to build a wind farm near Katie Troe's house in Clarks Grove. Troe says she researched the idea and doesn't like what she learned.
"Infrared sounds, strobe lights, forgoing maintenance...like it doesn't sound like there are enough people to do the maintenance on these, the oil changes and things that are needed."
Troe is a part of a group worried about the proposed "Bent Tree" wind farm.
"How it's going to effect our property values. That's one of my major concerns and the safety," neighbor Brian Wagner said.
"There are industrial wind plants. I think they should not be going in farm land. This is farm land and we're putting in industrial wind plants," Troe said.
Albert Lea's Economic Development Agency says the project would be just like other wind farms in the area. We talked with the company on the project, Wisconsin power and Light Company, about this project. They say right now, they're waiting on regulatory approvals for the 122 turbine wind farm. And they say those towers would not be close to homes.
The company says the turbines would be at least 1,000 feet away from homes. Project organizers say they're willing to work with landowners about their concerns. Troe and her neighbors just want to be safe.
"Turbines just need to be safe setbacks from houses which would decrease the noise, the health concerns, your children being so close to them."
Alliant Energy says it hopes to start working on the Bent Tree project within the next year. Albert Lea's Economic Development says some site plans are currently awaiting approval.
