Have you heard the big news? Our friends at Invenergy, Freeborn Wind Farm and Xcel are going to put 500-foot tall turbines in Fountain Lake. They will be spaced along the perimeter of the entire lake. These new 500-foot tall turbines are a technological wonder. An expansion area is proposed for East and West Main and the Farmstead property. Many homes somewhere in the Xcel properties will receive the power generated.

This announcement has not happened, yet, but how did you feel reading it? How do you suppose homeowners around Fountain Lake would feel with their full view of the lake being blocked? How would much of Albert Lea feel with the changed ambient noise level of the town 24/7, 365 days a year? How would they feel about the shadows that would loom and flicker over the city, the view that is loved by so many of the lake being gone forever. Homeowners who bought their homes for the view will have that view taken from them with no consent given.

This is exactly what is happening to many in the rural Freeborn County area with the proposed Freeborn Wind Farm. Landowners who have not signed on to be part of the project would be subjected to unwanted noise day and night onto their property and into their homes. Many will have shadows flickering over their property and into their homes — shadows that cannot be blocked with normal curtains.

Invenergy has suggested homeowners leave their homes for hours at a time or take a several-month vacation during times of flickering, typically around sunrise and sunset, to avoid the annoyance it will cause. Why should we be pushed from our homes?

Those who have signed on to host turbines or allow access to their land for collection lines, crane paths, a substation or overhead transmission lines are welcome to them but in no way should those uses and ill effects impact others beyond the participants’ property lines. Your property rights end where the next person’s property rights begin.

What is now a peaceful loved home, yard and way of life should not be taken from non-participating homeowners.

Mike Hansen

Glenville