There have been numerous papers written recently concerning the question of whether property values are affected by nearby wind farms. It's not a great leap of faith to realize that major structures close to residences like electrical transmission towers, highways, train tracks and wind turbines all affect the market value of our homes.
If a piece of property has leases for a number of wind turbines bringing substantial annual revenue, it has a positive effect on these homes. If a nearby property has no wind turbines, I contend that it will have a negative effect on property values.
If a parcel has three wind turbines which bring in, say, $15,000 a year, that will be a real asset in increasing the value of the property on the market. Even if the turbines are close to the house and are heard, the message delivered by the noise is that we are here making you money when we make noise.
It is a well-known fact that the annoyance associated with a noise source is affected by your control of and view of the noise source.
Many of us use dishwashers and vacuum cleaners and tolerate the annoyance, because it won't last 24-7 and it produces real benefits to us, even though nastadons living in the house can rumble about the disturbance.
So, if you benefit from a noise source, you tolerate it much more than if you don't benefit. Quiet dishwashers and vacuum cleaners are available for more money, but many manufacturers have given up really quieting these devices, because of these facts. If you apply this reasoning to the issue of the effect of nearby wind turbines on property values: hearing the turbine noise, seeing the turbine in operation, is much worse than just hearing it, particularly if you benefit from the presence of the turbines.
On Sunday, Dec. 27, Nancy Madsen wrote a balanced and well-reasoned article in the Watertown Times regarding property values near wind turbines. I agree with her final comments. "Based on his results, Mr. (Kurt) Kielisch suggested that property owners ask for a property value assurance agreement, where a developer would pay the difference between a property's sale price and the value of comparable property outside of a wind power development if the property loses value. 'If you really believe that the value won't decline, guarantee that fact,"' he said.
Turbine zoning laws should provide this protection to their citizens.
Charles Ebbing
LaFargeville
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