It’s been a week since Dodge County Concerned Citizens hosted Carol Overland, an expert regarding wind turbines and transmission lines.  The phones have been ringing as local citizens have provided the inside story regarding Dodge County Wind.  As famous radio program host, Paul Harvey, used to say, “And now, for the rest of the story”:

1. The Dodge County Wind project includes a massive transmission line that will cut across Dodge County and forever change the rural landscape.  Why such a large transmission line for 70 proposed wind turbines?  Because this is not the only project.  We’ve been advised that several additional projects will eventually feed into this huge transmission line.

2. Dodge County Wind proposes to build a 170 MW wind project in the county.  This 170 MW wind project is more than twice the size of the 84 MW wind project in Freeborn County.  In a rare move, a state judge recently recommended that Freeborn Wind be denied an operating permit, saying the project failed to show it can meet state noise standards. If state noise standards cannot be met for the Freeborn County project, how can Dodge County Wind meet state noise standards?

3. Wind turbines for the Dodge County Wind project are bigger than the Freeborn County wind project – some of the largest in the state.  With more size comes more noise.    

4. The developer has been working behind the scenes approaching farm families in rural Dodge County for months.  If neighbors refuse to sign, they’re apparently told that they are hurting their neighbors who have already signed contracts.

5. Several families reportedly have accepted $10,000 signing bonuses.

6. And, we understand that one or more elected officials accepted signing bonuses.

7. Eagle nests and other protected species are located in the project area, which have not been considered by the project.

And now, you know the rest of the story.

Brad Trom

On behalf of Dodge County Concerned Citizens

Blooming Prairie