Guest Column in the Urbana Daily Citizen, February 6th 2012
by Terry Rittenhouse
Urbana, Ohio
(reprinted on Champaign County Wind courtesy of Terry Rittenhouse)
I grieve for my community. An issue of great importance is upon us. It is time for ALL of us to look at the issue of wind turbines. I am appalled at the lack of education among our educated people of an issue that is about to change our lives forever. Will you, who say that you care about this place, really stand by and watch as your good people are divided, the rights of some of your family to peace, violated, and the future of Champaign County, our county, our community, dictated by outsiders in a Limited Liability Corporation? An issue of this magnitude deserves your attention. We are about to become a commodity, traded on Wall Street.
A new market has emerged; not in wind turbines, but in government wind turbine subsidies. Huge profits for investors in “green energy” subsidies have brought our community into focus. Wind turbine companies have a legacy of “farming the farmers,” paying paltry sums to local communities, creating long-standing divisions among the people of poorly sited projects, and harvesting huge dividends for their investors. Well educated and experienced wind lawyers, aided by our own local people who give them access in exchange for a cut, offer local farmers and land owners get-rich-quick contracts that make them swear to secrecy, even from their own family, farming community and neighbors, vowing contractually never to complain in exchange for a few hundred dollars a month. The real secret is how much they will actually take away from our community.
It is happening already. Our community is dividing into factions. Confident people who believe that what they are doing, and the methods used to achieve them, are right and their right. Surprised people who didn’t realize that this project had come so far so fast, only now recognizing that the lobbyists and project managers have been in Columbus and Champaign County for six years, and have a great lead on them. Concerned people who wonder why all must be so secret. Inquisitive people who are just starting to ask questions. Fearful people who now see what effect this may have on their property values and constitutionally protected right to live peaceably. Some people just don’t care. Downright angry people who see that their property and way of life will be sacrificed in the name of small profit for a few insiders and huge profit for a few outsiders. Humble and honest people who signed up with high hopes for the future, not realizing the true nature of the beast, who would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone, and are now contractually silent. Shocked people who can’t believe that these things are really that big!
Good people, one and all. Our people. Us.
That is what is at stake....Us..... Long after the wind turbine builders have left our towns, their master’s profits locked in and future secure, we will live with the soon-to-be- old technology and consequences of their construction. Those consequences will be physical, mental, financial, relational and generational. Will you still call every person friend at the fair? Will the word “farmer” be good or bad? What does bad blood taste like? Is this really worth it? Is this what we teach our children about tomorrow?
Surprise usually becomes either joy or anger. Secrets have a way of coming out. Those who study find deeper knowledge and meaning. Fear turns either to fight or flight. Ignorance is bliss until it hurts you or those you love. Righteous anger is the precursor of change. People who trust are sometimes taken advantage of by people who shouldn’t be. People who are shocked reach new levels of understanding, sometimes very quickly.
The future is upon us. We come now to the fork in the road. The primary election is right around the corner. Wind has their candidates in line. Just follow the campaign money and look where the signs are placed. If they can influence the vote, they can put commissioners in office who will vote on how, or if, they pay taxes to our community for the privilege of doing business here. Will the local money to the schools cover the loss of students in the districts? Will the local township money replace the tax revenue of the families who leave? Will anyone have blood on their hands if Careflight can’t get through? Might we have less in the future than we have now? Like all primary elections, the many factions will soon boil down to just two; those for wind turbines and those against. After most elections, the sides return to each other, as they have broader connections. Will it be so this time? Choose wisely, Champaign County. As every gardener and farmer knows, you reap what you sow.
The new hospital in Springfield cost 250 million dollars. Many lives were changed when big business bought up the land, tore down the houses and ripped the fabric of the local community. The end result was a state-of-the-art hospital and an area of economic development that benefits everyone in the region, in exchange for the pain. That is justifiable community sacrifice. There is no such benefit to wind turbines. Phase One of the wind turbine project is valued by its investors at 400 million dollars. Phase Two is even larger, and if it also costs 400 million, the one billion dollar range is coming into focus. One billion dollars in investment in Champaign County will become a reality with just one more project. A 30% government cash refund for this investment equals over 300 million in instant cash return on investment. This is in addition to what the turbines produce and sell for. Pretty good investment numbers, even at basic math. They plan to give us one million dollars per year.....
This project isn’t Green. This project is Red. Red hot money. It is embarrassing to see my community swindled. There is more to the fabric of life in Champaign County than mere monetary gain could ever pay. Let’s ALL count the true cost and benefits. How will our children judge what we have done? Those who think that they will not be affected by the wind turbine projects because they can’t see them will soon find out that their commitments do not end at the city limit or township signs. We are all family in this together, against powers and principalities that would divide and conquer us. Whether you like it or not.... Choose you this day whom you will serve. Even if you choose to ignore, you still have made a choice, and the future will hold you accountable for that choice. There is no longer any middle ground. Is it Us or them?
Respectfully,
Terry L. Rittenhouse
by Terry Rittenhouse
Urbana, Ohio
(reprinted on Champaign County Wind courtesy of Terry Rittenhouse)
I grieve for my community. An issue of great importance is upon us. It is time for ALL of us to look at the issue of wind turbines. I am appalled at the lack of education among our educated people of an issue that is about to change our lives forever. Will you, who say that you care about this place, really stand by and watch as your good people are divided, the rights of some of your family to peace, violated, and the future of Champaign County, our county, our community, dictated by outsiders in a Limited Liability Corporation? An issue of this magnitude deserves your attention. We are about to become a commodity, traded on Wall Street.
A new market has emerged; not in wind turbines, but in government wind turbine subsidies. Huge profits for investors in “green energy” subsidies have brought our community into focus. Wind turbine companies have a legacy of “farming the farmers,” paying paltry sums to local communities, creating long-standing divisions among the people of poorly sited projects, and harvesting huge dividends for their investors. Well educated and experienced wind lawyers, aided by our own local people who give them access in exchange for a cut, offer local farmers and land owners get-rich-quick contracts that make them swear to secrecy, even from their own family, farming community and neighbors, vowing contractually never to complain in exchange for a few hundred dollars a month. The real secret is how much they will actually take away from our community.
It is happening already. Our community is dividing into factions. Confident people who believe that what they are doing, and the methods used to achieve them, are right and their right. Surprised people who didn’t realize that this project had come so far so fast, only now recognizing that the lobbyists and project managers have been in Columbus and Champaign County for six years, and have a great lead on them. Concerned people who wonder why all must be so secret. Inquisitive people who are just starting to ask questions. Fearful people who now see what effect this may have on their property values and constitutionally protected right to live peaceably. Some people just don’t care. Downright angry people who see that their property and way of life will be sacrificed in the name of small profit for a few insiders and huge profit for a few outsiders. Humble and honest people who signed up with high hopes for the future, not realizing the true nature of the beast, who would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone, and are now contractually silent. Shocked people who can’t believe that these things are really that big!
Good people, one and all. Our people. Us.
That is what is at stake....Us..... Long after the wind turbine builders have left our towns, their master’s profits locked in and future secure, we will live with the soon-to-be- old technology and consequences of their construction. Those consequences will be physical, mental, financial, relational and generational. Will you still call every person friend at the fair? Will the word “farmer” be good or bad? What does bad blood taste like? Is this really worth it? Is this what we teach our children about tomorrow?
Surprise usually becomes either joy or anger. Secrets have a way of coming out. Those who study find deeper knowledge and meaning. Fear turns either to fight or flight. Ignorance is bliss until it hurts you or those you love. Righteous anger is the precursor of change. People who trust are sometimes taken advantage of by people who shouldn’t be. People who are shocked reach new levels of understanding, sometimes very quickly.
The future is upon us. We come now to the fork in the road. The primary election is right around the corner. Wind has their candidates in line. Just follow the campaign money and look where the signs are placed. If they can influence the vote, they can put commissioners in office who will vote on how, or if, they pay taxes to our community for the privilege of doing business here. Will the local money to the schools cover the loss of students in the districts? Will the local township money replace the tax revenue of the families who leave? Will anyone have blood on their hands if Careflight can’t get through? Might we have less in the future than we have now? Like all primary elections, the many factions will soon boil down to just two; those for wind turbines and those against. After most elections, the sides return to each other, as they have broader connections. Will it be so this time? Choose wisely, Champaign County. As every gardener and farmer knows, you reap what you sow.
The new hospital in Springfield cost 250 million dollars. Many lives were changed when big business bought up the land, tore down the houses and ripped the fabric of the local community. The end result was a state-of-the-art hospital and an area of economic development that benefits everyone in the region, in exchange for the pain. That is justifiable community sacrifice. There is no such benefit to wind turbines. Phase One of the wind turbine project is valued by its investors at 400 million dollars. Phase Two is even larger, and if it also costs 400 million, the one billion dollar range is coming into focus. One billion dollars in investment in Champaign County will become a reality with just one more project. A 30% government cash refund for this investment equals over 300 million in instant cash return on investment. This is in addition to what the turbines produce and sell for. Pretty good investment numbers, even at basic math. They plan to give us one million dollars per year.....
This project isn’t Green. This project is Red. Red hot money. It is embarrassing to see my community swindled. There is more to the fabric of life in Champaign County than mere monetary gain could ever pay. Let’s ALL count the true cost and benefits. How will our children judge what we have done? Those who think that they will not be affected by the wind turbine projects because they can’t see them will soon find out that their commitments do not end at the city limit or township signs. We are all family in this together, against powers and principalities that would divide and conquer us. Whether you like it or not.... Choose you this day whom you will serve. Even if you choose to ignore, you still have made a choice, and the future will hold you accountable for that choice. There is no longer any middle ground. Is it Us or them?
Respectfully,
Terry L. Rittenhouse