Dear Editor, The following is a portion of what I presented to the Knox County Supervisors at their regular bi-monthly meeting on June 21, 2024, regarding the North Fork windmill project.
By allowing neighbors to have the right to decide what I can put on my farm is imposing on my rights as a landowner. As long as I am not doing anything illegal or that would be detrimental to their farming operation, I can see no legal reason that they can be allowed to have any say-so.
Whether or not Chuck and I would be asked to have a windmill due to the location of our land, I am still in favor of the windmill project because I feel it is good for the environment, our community and our state.
By changing the zoning laws after they were set and National Grid Renewables was allowed to begin their project, we are setting a precedent that will have an effect on other businesses coming to our county and/or state.
There is a project in the works for solar power in western Knox County. How do you think they will react when they see how this was handled and the rules that they were given could be changed? Our small towns are getting smaller.
How are we going to get them to grow if we keep sending business away?
Some more of the upsides to allowing National Grid Renewables to do business in our community are: 1) This project will stimulate state and local economies by creating well-paying jobs, increasing local spending, boosting town and school census figures and supporting local businesses.
2) Farmers and landowners will gain new revenue streams. Farming continually evolves, and this project represents progress, aligning with practices such as minimum tillage, organic farming and crop diversification. I remember the comments when a few farmers started using minimum till.
3) The creation of jobs will allow our children to attend our technical school majoring in wind turbines, preventing us from losing some of our best and brightest from leaving the area. And more jobs will promote community development.
4) The additional income (what I am referring to is not taxes and not payments, but I am talking about charitable gifts the NGR has become known for) will support schools and charitable causes, enhancing resources for libraries, volunteer fire departments and other community needs.
Sincerely, Garnet A. Anderson, Wausa
