Group speaks out against wind farms locally

Wind farm activists against the building of a wind farm in Jack, Clay, and Montague County spot out at the Twin lakes Activity Center Thursday evening.

The event was sponsored by the North Texas Heritage Association, which spoke for more than 90 minutes on why having a wind farm in the area would not be a good idea in the short and long term. They said they have done their research and homework on the subject.Spoksesperson Bryon Barton said between one-half and two-thirds of the farm would be in Clay and Montague County. Jack County Judge Keith Umphress said over the weekend his sources said because of the anti movement in Clay and Montague Counties about 95 percent of the farm is expected to be in Jack County.

Barton said the total impact of the farm is never put out before property owners and people just see the money that is coming in. Barton said there are always such things such as property devaluation of an estimated $4 million in land and houses, agricultural losses from as far away as 15 miles from the farm. He says many studies have shown that the amount of rain drops around the farm as does production.

He also notes a reduction in tourism as “no one wants to sit around and look at a turbine. He also notes that 80 percent of people never go back to an area that has a turbine in it.”

Increased health costs are another reason behind not having turbines in the area, according to Barton. An increase in epilepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome is synonymous with a turbine syndrome seen in Canada and more often being seen here.

The turbines being planned here are more than twice the size of present ones, Barton said, blocking the beautiful area views that has people from the Metroplex wanting to move here.

A property devaluation of 15 to 20 percent can occur within five miles of the farm themselves. Agricultural losses include the loss of bats which the turbines kill and which keeps insects off ranches can cost up to $600,000, Barton said.

Add up the losses in tourism, health and loss of hunting money and it can add up to $6.6 million which among the county’s 9,000 and change residents would mean a loss of $508 per year for the next 20 years.

“What will they do to replace your revenue,? Barton asked. “They’ll raise your taxes.”

Jacksboro realtor Miles Maddox, whose family has been in the county for six generations, said that more and more people are coming to the county to enjoy the American Dream. Acreage is running $4-6,000 an acre right now and up to $8,000 an acre in the next 10 years.

The growth expected to come this way is finally showing signs of doing so and wind farms will detract from that, Maddox explained.

Barton urged everyone to do their own research, get with their county commissioner and make their voices be heard.