Dear Editor,
Where were the Pattern Energy representatives last Thursday? The Town of Mineral Point reserved the conference room at the Quality Inn for an informational meeting with Pattern Energy. The representatives from Pattern canceled their attendance at this meeting. Why? According to the Pattern Energy website, “Our approach to building successful facilities is to work closely with residents in a way that is respectful and fits the needs of the landowners and communities that host us.
We seek to build partnerships and bring long-term benefits to where we operate. We prioritize relationship building and open communication and aim to address and incorporate feedback, and further local benefits.” Why do you have this on your website when your representatives do not attend local meetings? Pattern says they will work closely with residents – where were you Thursday evening where 100 people gathered with questions for your Uplands Wind project? And you say that you’re being respectful? Pattern representatives are not respectful of elderly landowners saying no. Pattern land agents continue to hound area landowners that have repeatedly said no. Pattern continues to dangle more money in front of landowners badly needed for connection lines. This is not the way you build relationships in the Driftless area. Furthermore, Pattern’s “open communication” is pathetic. Open communication means that you attend meetings for all towns and counties – not just the ones you chose to attend. Open communication does not mean hosting Zoom meetings where you pick and choose which questions to answer so you can say that you worked with the community.
Working with the communities means you attend meetings and answer ALL the questions. There were written questions sent to Pattern a few years ago with no response. Why is Pattern afraid to answer these questions. This is the largest wind turbine project in the state of Wisconsin. Pattern Energy has scheduled a Zoom meeting for this Thursday 3/19 from 5:30 -7:30. Will our questions be answered? I’m sure Pattern will check off their boxes that they need to for their application to the PSC but not actually answer the questions we all want to hear.
Pattern Energy should attend ALL town board meetings in the project area. If Pattern Energy respected our land and traditions as they say on their website, industrial wind turbines would not be constructed in the Driftless area. The Driftless area is unique in so many ways and Pattern Energy is determined to destroy our land and local traditions.
If you talk to a Pattern representative, ask them about the North Kent project in Ontario Canada. Residents in that project had clean water before they started pile driving for turbine bases. Years later, these residents have to source water from a community well and haul it to their homes.
Everyone near the Uplands Wind project area should be getting their well water tested before any construction starts. Pattern Energy is not
our friend. Friends do not cause homeowners to leave their homes due to health effects from wind turbines. Health effects and infrasound are real with these 650’+ tall wind turbines. These turbines will be the biggest in the country, yet Pattern will not increase setbacks from residences. Pattern will follow the PSC guidelines but not the local health and safety ordinances. This is not working with communities. This is not building relationships. This is not what the residents of the Driftless area need. Simply put, this is blatant disregard for the people of the community in respect to their health and safety. In my opinion, this project is what’s best for Pattern Energy Not the community.
Please visit No-Uplands.com for information and maps of the project.
Steve Ferrell
Iowa County Landowner