By Sarah Doty
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

Peter Tangren watched for several months as 10 wind turbines were erected on his land in Mower County.

The financial and environmental benefits of a "second crop" are good things, he said.

But not everyone is as excited about the turbines that have found homes in the rural landscape across southeastern Minnesota.

Many farmers are concerned that the turbines are "destroying the rural landscape."

Tangren agrees that the scenery is changed, but, for him, the benefits outweigh any doubts he had.

"I would agree that it does change the landscape dramatically, and when we were first approached we talked long and hard about whether we wanted it," Tangren said. "But at the end of the day we realized that it was going to happen, so if we didn't sign up, we wouldn't have any turbines, nor would we get any payments, but we would still look at them."

Russ Foss is a farmer who lives southeast of Kenyon. He didn't allow a turbine to be put on his farm because of several concerns he had. He even joined together with his neighbors who formed a group, the Citizens for Environmental Rights and Safety, which opposed the Kenyon Wind Project.

"They like to label us radicals, but the people that are involved are just common people that live in the neighborhood," Foss said.

He said he was in favor of wind when the idea of turbines first came out, but then he did some research.

"Wind sounds like a good idea until you really look into it, then there are just so many holes in the whole deal," he said. Some of his main concerns are the possible diminishment of property values, safety and the rapid development of all of the projects. He also mentioned the shadow flicker that can occur, the noise, the blades throwing ice and the possibility of a turbine malfunctioning and spinning out of control.

For Tangren, things seem to be working so far.

"From my standpoint I am very pleased with the project," he said. "With what they have done, with how they have done it, and I think we are being adequately compensated for the inconveniences of farming around them and I like the idea of green energy. I just think we have got to do that."

Change not always good, bad

Dexter resident John Shaw can't ignore the dozens and dozens of turbines that surround his home, however he doesn't think it is necessarily a bad thing.

"It's different, it changes the landscape, but change is not always good and it's not always bad," he said. "If it lowers our energy costs, or changes it a little bit, I think it's going to help."

Shaw who also owns the Lake Geo Travel Plaza in Dexter, says that the majority of the comments about the new additions have been positive.

"The majority of the landowners are happy," he said.

Jan Hangge, who is co-owner of the Oasis Bar & Grill on Main Street, agrees.

"Most of them are happy," she said. But that doesn't mean she likes to see them.

"I don't like the blinking (from the FAA-required lights). If one was by my house I would die with all that blinking. I would have to have blackout curtains at night, but otherwise it's OK. I really believe in other forms of energy."

Tangren says that the blinking lights do take a little getting used to, but if he could change one thing it would be the noise.

"If the wind is in the right direction -- or wrong direction -- you hear a sound and that is probably more of a concern; the noise pollution more than the visual pollution. But in three years, it's something that you won't be able to hear, it's like white noise."

Future benefits

Linda Williamson of Adams has lived in southeastern Minnesota all her life, and she says she is happy with the turbines.

"I think they are eco-friendly," she said.

"I think that with all the things that are going on today, global warming, fossil fuels, we have to find some other way to make electricity. I think it's a good thing."

Her first thought when seeing a tower was "Wow," but that soon wore off, and now she is just used to seeing them out her window.

Williamson has heard some concern about the towers not being "aesthetically pleasing," but she said she believes that benefits will be seen several years down the road.

"I think in the long run, when our children and great-grandchildren are going to have to be paying 50 percent of their income to cover the cost of fossil fuels, I think they will appreciate it," Williamson said.

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