— See documentary ‘Windfall’ on Netflix

Wow. They just don’t get it … or maybe they do.

Juwi’s hope is the increase for wind turbine setbacks will make them appear sympathetic, like good neighbors. Don’t fall for it; this is strictly business, folks. This is just part of the game wind companies use to seem concerned about the community.

This is not their first rodeo; these companies have done this before. They know the resulting fallout that will occur in a small, tight-knit community such as ours. They know it will tear us apart, and yet they come here anyway.

They know this, so they have to come quietly. Doesn’t that make you want to question their every move and motive? This happens to nearly every community ANY wind turbine company descends upon. Check out other towns’ stories; they will feel eerily familiar.

I urge you to watch the acclaimed documentary “Windfall.” You can view it on Netflix. Our situation looks like it was lifted directly from this movie because it is exactly what’s happening in our little neck of the woods.

Tipton County Citizens for Responsible Development will host a chili supper fundraiser at the Sharpsville Park gym Thursday. Chili will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. (or until gone) with a meeting/presentation from 8 to 9 p.m.

For more information about industrial wind turbines, come to Tipton County Citizens for Responsible Development’s next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sharpsville Park gym, the chili supper, or visit the website at tiptonwindconcerns.com.

Beth Juliot, Sharpsville

Developers answer only to shareholders

Until a lot of questions are answered, putting juwi and ethical in the same sentence just does not work. Coming into Tipton County under a vale of secrecy does not give me faith in any of the propaganda they are peddling. It makes me wonder what they are hiding behind the next door.

If the company wants us to think they are responsible for erecting these monster industrial machines, why do they need to do it under the umbrella of a separate limited liability corporation. LIMITED LIABILITY rings very loud in my ears.

Juwi is a large corporation based out of Germany. It is a corporation not unlike any other. Corporations are formed and have one responsibility. That responsibility is to increase shareholder value. Anything they do will have that one goal as the ultimate outcome. Decisions they make will have that one goal as the ultimate outcome. The money being spent is a cost of doing business for that one outcome: increasing shareholder value.

As citizens of Tipton County, we need to be aware of who is paying to get information out to the public. Should we believe a corporation from another country that pays attorneys, consultants and PR firms as a cost of doing business to achieve one ultimate outcome, to increase shareholder value?

It seems wind industry corporations have a play book when they come into communities like ours, and we should not be blinded by the smooth talker in an expensive suit. The responsibility to their shareholders will cost us, as taxpayers, at the federal, state and local level.

Jeff Hoover, Tipton

Attend a meeting of turbine opponents

I have never met a sales agent who will say anything negative about the product he is attempting to sell. Today’s society is set up as the saying goes, “Buyer, beware.”

Tipton County, you’d better beware!  You are being taken advantage of.

A recent article in the UK by a government agency has finally admitted that home values are negatively affected in wind farms. They have been installing wind turbines for several years longer than the Midwest, so experience is the key here.

The true reason they are coming to our doorstep is because it is millions of dollars cheaper for them to hook up to the grid here. Transmission lines will be shorter and less expensive for them to install than if they had chosen a rural area without existing transmissions lines. Your concerns don’t matter. It is all about reducing the cost of installing.

They don’t care if you lose thousands of dollars in home value, or have to deal with all the other negative effects from them. Remember, once they are up, they move on to the next county.

Setbacks in the UK have been extended over the years up to a mile. Setbacks in France have been increased throughout the years up to a mile. Setbacks in California have increased up to 2 miles. People, wake up.

People around the world have become aware of the issues and have increased their setback requirements that started out at 1,000 feet, like our current ordinance. Tipton County Citizens for Responsible Development is trying to make the public aware of those reasons. The wind companies are aware of them, but like I said, you will not hear a sales agent speak negatively towards a product he is selling.

There are reasons why wind companies have negotiated with homeowners and bought their homes. There are reasons why complaints have been made, and good-neighbor payoffs written. Don’t fall for it. Come to our meeting and listen to the facts!

Brian Key, Sharpsville