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How do you feel about homeowners protesting electric generating wind turbines?

How do you feel about homeowners protesting electric generating wind turbines?

  • Wiind energy is great & complainers should adapt.

    Votes: 20 35.1%
  • Wiind turbines are good & property owners should be justly compensated for decrease property value

    Votes: 8 14.0%
  • I think Obama is an idiot

    Votes: 5 8.8%
  • I'd be upset if wind turbines went up interfering with my view

    Votes: 3 5.3%
  • The wind turbines should not be allowed to disrupt views

    Votes: 1 1.8%
  • I think George W Bush ruined this nation

    Votes: 3 5.3%
  • Other, please explain

    Votes: 17 29.8%

  • Total voters
    57
You don't own the view around your house. As long as they're not being built on land owned by the homeowners, then there's no problem.
 
There is a windy area in this general area. The homeowners lost their fight against the wind turbines, and they are going up.

This is green energy compared to other sources. The turbines are immense and the homeowners object based on ascetic considerations. They value their view.

What do you think. This has been a huge controversy in these parts.

Ascetics do matter, as does safety, the environment, and , most importantly, economics..
We have a huge nation, so then, how do Germany and France do it ?
We simply need better people. And a far better educational system.
 
If its not your yard you don't get compensated for what someone does on their property.
 
Well I dont think we should drive any cars because a few years back I was driving my car, and a car on the other side of the road hit a bird and a bat at the same time, so do not drive your car, because it can kill a bird and/or a bat......

Now back to the topic, I think it is rude for a industrial sized turbine to be built in view of a residential area, I could see why a "negative nancy" could think it may be as obnoxious as a smokestack would be to me, and I live in S.Dakota, one of the windest, open landed, barren states in the nation. Plenty of great oppurtunities to build out here and wire the power to everywhere else (I know there is an infrastructure problem, but thats another thread), instead of having it placed in your backyard. Now I believe its anyones right to have a quiet residential turbine on their property, just like its your right to have a poodle if your my neighbor.... (I just dont want to hear it bark)

Now as far as is Wind a good idea.... well yes and no. If you have $3000 and would like to reduce your grid dependency and produce clean energy, then consider this: A $3k turbine is a decent sized turbine, it will help, it wont be to large (the higher the better) and you will be satisfied, $3k of solar panels is roughly the same situation, you will reduce dependency and will be happy with your investment. Now 5 years later, your mechanical turbine is still spinning away, and your panels are still sitting away, both producing great power outputs and you'd like to invest another $3k, well for the wind, you buy a second turbine and now you have two little machines whizzing away, but the solar guy, just buys more panels, plugs them in and expanding his exisitng setup. 5 years down the road, your mechinical turbine is getting worn out, 10 years of constant spinning pays it toll, gears are wearing, blades are flexible (less efficient) but still an overall producer, the solar panels, still sitting there. My point is turbine units cannot be upgraded and since they are mechincal will wear out faster in time. A cheap solar unit now can be upgraded slowly as time/money permit.
 
Now as far as is Wind a good idea.... well yes and no. If you have $3000 and would like to reduce your grid dependency and produce clean energy, then consider this: A $3k turbine is a decent sized turbine, it will help, it wont be to large (the higher the better) and you will be satisfied, $3k of solar panels is roughly the same situation, you will reduce dependency and will be happy with your investment. Now 5 years later, your mechanical turbine is still spinning away, and your panels are still sitting away, both producing great power outputs and you'd like to invest another $3k, well for the wind, you buy a second turbine and now you have two little machines whizzing away, but the solar guy, just buys more panels, plugs them in and expanding his exisitng setup. 5 years down the road, your mechinical turbine is getting worn out, 10 years of constant spinning pays it toll, gears are wearing, blades are flexible (less efficient) but still an overall producer, the solar panels, still sitting there. My point is turbine units cannot be upgraded and since they are mechincal will wear out faster in time. A cheap solar unit now can be upgraded slowly as time/money permit.

a wind turbine would produce more power over time than a solar panel, as it is more often windy than sunny, and the turbine can continue over night, (having both would ensure almost continous energy) and if it is well lubricated it should last almost perpetually.
 
Two parts:

Its not always more windy than sunny (no sense in arguing geography), but you can always count on the sun. I live in a historically windy place (next to a bomber base from the 20's when we needed the extra lift) and doing "rough" calculations, for my investment, a solar panel is just as good as turbine, and I am willing to argue that I live in one of the windiest places in the country. Now I do own a turbine, I am a fan of them, but generally speaking I would persuade someone to go the panel route for that reason, you can always count on Sun. The best arguement is to have both, Wind for Winter/Night and Solar for Summer/Day..... either way you are winning.

And as far as lubrication, you and I, a little grease, yes good to go, but the average American would find it "easier" to spray his panels with a hose (or let the rain do it) then to take down his 40 foot turbine for routine maintenance. The blades will weaken in time as well. Again, minor points here, just wanted to share some insight I didnt thing about when I got into the hobby.
 
There is a windy area in this general area. The homeowners lost their fight against the wind turbines, and they are going up.

This is green energy compared to other sources. The turbines are immense and the homeowners object based on ascetic considerations. They value their view.

What do you think. This has been a huge controversy in these parts.

I picked other. These property owners are justified in feeling pissed.They paid money for their property because of certain things, one of those things being the view.Part of me says they have a right to do with what they want with their property as long as it does not endanger their neighbors, the key words being "their property. They do not own where the windmills are going so they can not dictate where the windmills are being built. If it was a toxic waste dump or nuclear power plant then I can understand those things do present a elevated risk of danger to the community.
 
I picked other. These property owners are justified in feeling pissed.They paid money for their property because of certain things, one of those things being the view.Part of me says they have a right to do with what they want with their property as long as it does not endanger their neighbors, the key words being "their property. They do not own where the windmills are going so they can not dictate where the windmills are being built. If it was a toxic waste dump or nuclear power plant then I can understand those things do present a elevated risk of danger to the community.

I agree, would of been nice if the neighborhood was informed so they could voice their opinion and/or have time to react.
 
I have no problem with people protesting, however, I think in this case it is for the wrong thing. We are going to have to accept an increase in industrialization (and wind turbines are a form of that, being machines that produce something) in this country, especially in regards to energy production is we are ever going to get back on our collective feet again. Aesthetically, there is never a good place to put these things, but they always have to end up somewhere and often one place is as good as another as long as the infrastructure is right.
 
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There is a windy area in this general area. The homeowners lost their fight against the wind turbines, and they are going up.

This is green energy compared to other sources. The turbines are immense and the homeowners object based on ascetic considerations. They value their view.

What do you think. This has been a huge controversy in these parts.

I thought they looked really cool, atually - we saw a lot in mountains between here and Freemont. . . so cool I took pictures.
Picture218.jpg


they were a bit distracting, though - they'd spin at odd intervals and made the entire hillside look like it was moving - disorientating almost . .. but if you saw it all the time you'd get use to it and just block it out.
 
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There is a windy area in this general area. The homeowners lost their fight against the wind turbines, and they are going up.

This is green energy compared to other sources. The turbines are immense and the homeowners object based on ascetic considerations. They value their view.

What do you think. This has been a huge controversy in these parts.

as long as their property is not infringed on, it's too bad their view is obstructed but oh well.
 
Well, honestly - I think it has a heavy factor in this.

People MOVE to certain areas purely based on the view from their doorstep - location location location. If their view was originally obstructed by these wind turbines they likely might not have moved there. By putting up the turbines they are completely tanking the appeal of the location and likely deterring future inhabitants from wanting to live there.

But at what point does one's unobstructed view weigh in when ti comes to a view that could possibly span for miles and miles?
 
Well, honestly - I think it has a heavy factor in this.

People MOVE to certain areas purely based on the view from their doorstep - location location location. If their view was originally obstructed by these wind turbines they likely might not have moved there. By putting up the turbines they are completely tanking the appeal of the location and likely deterring future inhabitants from wanting to live there.

But at what point does one's unobstructed view weigh in when ti comes to a view that could possibly span for miles and miles?

Well person A wants a great view and person B wants clean energy. So I agree that the business should of both informed the neighborhood of the plans (of course they wouldnt because it would impede progess) or moved the turbines to a remote area. But regardless, Person A doesnt have any room to complain about there view "tarnished" of course its unforunate, but so is your neighbor painting his house pink with blue poka dots....
 
Well person A wants a great view and person B wants clean energy. So I agree that the business should of both informed the neighborhood of the plans (of course they wouldnt because it would impede progess) or moved the turbines to a remote area. But regardless, Person A doesnt have any room to complain about there view "tarnished" of course its unforunate, but so is your neighbor painting his house pink with blue poka dots....

To me it sounds like a classic legal issue - neighbor VS business . . . to court, judgment, settled forever.
 
To me it sounds like a classic legal issue - neighbor VS business . . . to court, judgment, settled forever.

Possibly yes. Seems like properly zoned section lines should settle that before hand. But once the settlement is declared, wheres the line drawn? Can anything that is in my view that I dont like be court worthy?
 
Wind turbines? Wouldn't that mess up our hair? I'm against those air bags in cars, too.
 
LOL - I'd hate to burst your old, wrinkled bubble which is your most prized possession.
But, no, they won't mess up your hair :)
 
I picked other. These property owners are justified in feeling pissed.They paid money for their property because of certain things, one of those things being the view.Part of me says they have a right to do with what they want with their property as long as it does not endanger their neighbors, the key words being "their property. They do not own where the windmills are going so they can not dictate where the windmills are being built. If it was a toxic waste dump or nuclear power plant then I can understand those things do present a elevated risk of danger to the community.

Good answer. I think I'll vote other too. I sympathize with their being pissed, but the other property owner also has rights. Also, we need energy and the complainers use it too.

Personally, I think people get too hung up on views, but different strokes for different folks. I also think this wind turbines look cool. They don't put them terrible close together.
 
These complainers makes me laugh...

Most wind turbines I've seen were in the middle of a HUGE field. They need to be because of the safety hazard. They aren't even noisy and they are relatively small compared to the open field they are likely in.

Besides, putting the wind turbines in is for a greater good. I don't really give a damn if these people's views aren't aesthetically appealing. I personally find wind turbines fascinating and an awesome feat of ingenuity and design.
 
Greater good arguments tend not to be that great. Listen, if the windmills drop their property values, they have reason to complain. In fact, that was the reason why those commie HOA's were born. There is reason to complain if they are built close to established communities and have an impact on those communities. You can't just rob people because it's for the "greater good". There are places in which wind farms can be created, we have a lot out in the West. And wind energy is a good, clean form of energy that can supplement our current energy sources. It's nothing to be aloof about or ignore; you can't just excuse behavior which can negatively impact someone. So perhaps it should be looked into. Are there violations of local law, zoning, etc. Has it impacted the value of the land adjacent? Things like that. We should invest in wind power for sure, but there are only a few places windy enough constantly for it to make sense.
 
Greater good arguments tend not to be that great. Listen, if the windmills drop their property values, they have reason to complain. In fact, that was the reason why those commie HOA's were born. There is reason to complain if they are built close to established communities and have an impact on those communities. You can't just rob people because it's for the "greater good". There are places in which wind farms can be created, we have a lot out in the West. And wind energy is a good, clean form of energy that can supplement our current energy sources. It's nothing to be aloof about or ignore; you can't just excuse behavior which can negatively impact someone. So perhaps it should be looked into. Are there violations of local law, zoning, etc. Has it impacted the value of the land adjacent? Things like that. We should invest in wind power for sure, but there are only a few places windy enough constantly for it to make sense.

Not to be a dick but your property value is not your neighbors concern.
You take a risk with property like any other investment.
If you it doesn't pan out, that's your problem.
 
Not to be a dick but your property value is not your neighbors concern.
You take a risk with property like any other investment.
If you it doesn't pan out, that's your problem.

No it's not. My property value is my concern. And if you do something unreasonable which causes the value thereof to decrease, then you have essentially robbed from me. A man has the right to protect himself from thievery.
 
To me it sounds like a classic legal issue - neighbor VS business . . . to court, judgment, settled forever.

if there were no covenants in place already, there is no case for court, imo.
 
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