1 CRAZY WINDMILL BATTLE

Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here, I say, windmill trouble right here in Fayette County, Texas. (With apologies to Robert Preston for stealing his lyrics)

Yes, windmills are coming to my county and the folks in these parts are riled up, including me. While I am all for renewable energy and believe the fossil fuel era is ending, I have some big concerns.

WINDMILLS IN THE U.S.

According to the USGS, as of January 2022, more than 70,800 wind turbines have been constructed in the U.S. and its territories. And the size of the windmills is growing. While the average height is 300 feet, the company wants to put up ones that are 500 feet—the approximate height of the Washington Monument.

WINDMILL ISSUES

The USGS goes on to say that wild animals are affected, not only by colliding with blades (birds and bats) but also by habitat loss and reduced survival or reproduction. Noise pollution is a big problem for creatures. As with my now-defunct oil well, trucks need roads erect and service the giants. In the past, they entered my property at their leisure.

For humans, however, energy.gov says that the average turbine is no louder than a typical refrigerator and creates less noise pollution than average city car traffic. (Note: I moved to the country to escape urban commotion.)

While most of the internal wind turbine components can be recycled at the end of their lives, the blades are another can of worms. Most of the whirly-gigs end up in landfills. Work is underway to resolve this issue.

Unfortunately, in Texas, we have little legislation regulating this industry.

WINDMILL OPPOSITION

Recently a windmill developer swooped into the county, contacting landowners and inviting them to dinner to woo them into a contract. Then all hell broke loose. A group quickly formed and held an emergency meeting at the iconic 114-year-old Freyburg Hall, complete with a potluck meal, speakers, soft drinks, and, of course, the ability to buy beer. (They tagged me with the proverbial “you can drink” bracelet.)

Amazingly nearly 400 people showed up to hear speakers and to learn what the company was up to. Apparently, they are seeking 20,000 contiguous acres to lease in the area.

The opposition created a map with the project’s boundaries as they understood it and asked opposing property owners to black out their land. Even though I was just outside the boundary, I soon got a call from the developers. My answer was “no.” I do not want to see or hear the thing.

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WINDMILL THOUGHTS

I am not Don Quixote. We need affordable, clean energy. Living without electricity at the ranch is possible, but being a survivalist is not a viable option for me.

The dilemma is, who should house the darn things? Apparently, local opposition is a significant barrier to implementation. According to the article previously cited, whites are opposing development, suggesting an environmental justice issue of energy privilege. Delaying and canceling clean energy in wealthier, white communities means continued pollution in poorer communities and communities of color.

But, because of previous racial inequities, whites own 98% of all farmland where windmills would be located. Obviously, they are the only ones protesting because they are the only ones affected.

Believe me, Fayette County has been a major contributor to energy in this country. Four thousand twenty-eight wells have been drilled here and 607 leases are currently producing. I am now stuck with an abandoned well that is polluting my land. Additionally, the oil trucks continue to tear up our roads.

Two solar farms are under construction here, one about four miles from me. No one has protested these, and I am OK with it even though the traffic has picked up because I cannot see it or hear it.

Again, the proverbial question. Where do my rights for a clean environment end and the rights of others begin?

What are your thoughts?