Wind research a second job for local couple
SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP — Lynda Kawula never expected she'd end up with a second job as a wind farm researcher, publishing a Web site opposing wind farm plans in Rock County.
She's now expanding her site, "Better Plan, Rock County," at www.betterplan.squarespace.com, to include video interviews with residents who live among Wisconsin's newest wind farms in the Fond du Lac area.
Her 1-year-old site attracts about 1,000 unique visitors a month from all over the country, she said.
Kawula and her husband, Kevin, live in Spring Valley Township just over the border from Magnolia Township, and fear plans for wind turbines around their home will ruin their country life.
Lynda said she spends about 40 hours a week online and doing other research while Kevin has been attending many of the meetings for Gov. Jim Doyle's task force on global warming. The couple think solar and manure digesters would be better alternatives for Rock County.
Lynda admits she's one of those "not-in-my-backyard" folks as far as wind turbines, but she said she believes wind turbines should be "not-in-anyone's-backyard."
The Kawulas spent a couple days among the wind farms up north, but plan to spend more time during the approaching windier seasons. Both experienced motion-type sickness around the turbines, Lynda said.
She's been editing and transcribing videos that are sent to her, as well as taking her own video and creating clips. She said the videos show the reality of living among a wind farm, from a mix of families who oppose and support the projects.
"It's turbines all the time in our house," she jokes.
Kevin will turn to her when she's on the computer and ask, "Are you turbining?"
"Yeah, I'm turbining," she says.
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Sep 24, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
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zoom - pull the shades. You need anymore simple answers?
Sep 24, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
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localboy - The motion sickness can come from the huge shadow flicker the turbine blades can cast over a house. These things can be forty stories tall. You can put down that book, or get out of the car, but if that wind turbine bothers you at your house, what are you going to do?
Sep 24, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
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How much information is out their to sustain week after week of research? I have driven by and stopped at the ones in Montfort just past Dodgeville. They really aren't loud but they can wreck a nice view. I don't think wrecking a view outweighs the positives to them though.
Sep 24, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
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I stand corrected! Have I mentioned it was a LONG trip???
Sep 24, 2008 at 9:49 a.m.
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heatherh dont you mean 'hear' for yourself:) jk:)
Sep 24, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
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We just returned from a trip out west and my husband thought I was nuts when I asked him to stop so I could "hear" a wind farm. After reading about how disruptive the noise was, I wanted to see for myself. They're not nearly as noisy as some of the opposition would lead you to believe. As for the motion sickness, if it makes you ill, don't look at them! This is NIMBY at its best!
Sep 24, 2008 at 8:56 a.m.
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Why does America have to 'farm' windmills? I just returned from Denmark and northern Germany where these same gentle giants scatter and romance the landscape with their graceful motion, more like a form of art, while commanding respect for what they stand for!
Sep 24, 2008 at 7:54 a.m.
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Yes, I too am so concerned about global warming. After all, I think the average temperature has gone up 2 degrees since they started keeping records of the weather! BUNK!
Sep 23, 2008 at 5:40 p.m.
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Motion sickness from being around turbines? Are you kidding me? People get sick in cars when they read, but we don't ban cars. People get motion sickness on boats and airplanes. Should we ban those also? Ruin their "country life"? How about the cow, pig, sheep, and horse poop smell? These people have been reading too many Kevin Tredeau books. I tell you, there are all walks of life on this earth.
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