Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsBuckland residents voice concerns of proposed wind farm

The Buckland community turns out to learn more about a proposed wind farm in Auglaize County.

There were a lot of questions about where the turbines would be located, their size, their noise, and how it affects Auglaize County residents.

"My biggest concern is the property value. I heard an individual speak tonight that said property values in Van Wert fell for the people who lived beside the turbines and I don't want the property value of my house to fall and I can't sell it," Tom Schnarre, an Auglaize County resident, said.

Schnarre is one of the many Auglaize County residents with questions about plans for a proposed wind farm.  A couple dozen people showed up for a meeting organized by Buckland's mayor to get more information on the plan.

U.S. Mainstream Renewable Power is still in the early stages of the proposal.  If it gets the green light the company would build about 50 turbines in Auglaize County, generating about 100 megawatts of power.  

That would create a much smaller wind farm than the one already in Van Wert County which produces about 500 megawatts of energy.  

Many at the meeting were worried about the noise that comes with the turbines.

"I was out in wind farms out in Colorado where I hunt and they are noisy. you know, if I wanted to build beside a railroad track, I'd of bought property beside a railroad track, so I would say its pretty much the same thing," Schnarre said.

A representative from U.S. Mainstream Renewable Power did answer questions at the meeting, but wouldn't talk to Your News Now.  He told residents the turbines are very quiet.  There were also some questions that went unanswered about health risks.

"There's health effects that I've heard about and generally if you don't own the land that they're being put on then I don't see the benefit of having them," Jeff Thompson, an Auglaize County resident, said.

Schnarre isn't totally against the turbines, but says he wants a guarantee that his property won't lose value if his neighbor leases their land for a turbine.

"I think the people that live beside them ought to have some type of guarantee that their home values are not going to fall because of these turbines, and if it's the reason they fall, they can't sell their house, then I think they ought to be reimbursed for it," Thompson said.

Buckland's mayor says residents who lease land to U.S. Mainstream for turbines would get $10,000 a year and would have to sign a long-term lease.  The company wants to get about 8,000 to 10,000 acres of land for the wind farm.. So far residents have agreed to lease a total of 5,000 acres.

This is not a done deal though.  The company is still doing feasibility studies which are expected to take a few years.  Then it still would have to get approval from the state to build, and again, get more residents to lease their land.