County residents divided over plans for wind farm

An overflow crowd turned out for the Carroll County Quorum Court’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 21, with several attendees eager to voice their opinions on the possibility of wind turbines being erected on private land in the Green Forest area.

Boulder, Colo.-based Scout Clean Energy’s Nimbus project is estimated to expand over approximately 9,000 acres — about 14 square miles — in Carroll County, much of it along County Road 905 southeast of Green Forest. Scout says the project could generate up to 180 megawatts of electricity at peak demand — enough to power almost 30,000 homes. Scout says it has signed lease agreements with more than 50 landowners and estimates that the 30-year project will generate more than $14 million in lease payments and $25 million in tax revenue for the county.

Two speakers were on the agenda for the March 21 quorum court meeting, allotted five minutes apiece to share their thoughts on the Nimbus project. Several others were on hand to speak during public comments — when speakers are limited to three minutes apiece — but justices of the peace voted 9-1 on a voice vote to limit public comments to five speakers in favor of the Nimbus project and five against. District 3 JP Harrie Farrow cast the lone vote against limiting public comments.

Later in the meeting, County Judge David Writer announced that there will be two public meetings regarding the Nimbus project. The meetings will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, and Monday, April 24, at the Berryville Community Center.

“You will be able to get your questions answered by the people who can answer your questions,” Writer said.

Carolyn Martin Rogers and former county judge Richard Williams, both of whom oppose the Nimbus project, spoke for five minutes apiece as part of the meeting’s agenda.

Rogers said she believes the project could have a far-reaching negative impact.

“I believe that turbines have a low benefit while causing significant harm to the wildlife, people and the environment,” Rogers said.

Rogers expressed concerns about the potential impact on drinking water from fiberglass and plastic particles left on the ground as blades delaminate. She also questioned what impact the project could have on the future food supply, saying “ranchers and farmers across the United States have ended raising cattle and crops in lieu of turbine income.”

Rogers said the benefit of wind turbines will be minimal while pointing out that fossil fuels are necessary to operate the turbines.

“Are we destroying our environment for only 5 percent energy production that actually may not benefit us locally?” she asked.

Williams focused his comments on what he described as Writer’s rights and responsibilities as county judge.

“Judge Writer, you not only have the authority to stop this, you also have, as I read state law, are not allowed to promote any private- sector business to use any Carroll County road,” Williams said. “And if you permit such, you’re in violation of Arkansas state law. And if any agreements have been completed, they are not legally binding, this being a violation of Arkansas state law.”

Williams also said that what he described as “mining” will be necessary to install the foundations for the wind towers.

“And in research, the foundations are approximately 14 to 16 feet in diameter, or larger, and 25 to 35 feet deep, or deeper,” he said.

Williams also questioned why Carroll County was chosen as the site for the project and why more information hasn’t been made available to the public.

“This county is the least volume of area that includes Baxter, Marion, Boone counties with wind velocity,” he said. “Why all the secrecy? Maybe due to previous attempts to construct wind farms in Carroll County, the negative public response to wind farms.”

PUBLIC COMMENTS After the quorum court completed its agenda items, which included approval of a resolution confirming the appointment of Robert McKenzie to the Inspiration Point Rural Fire Protection District Board as well as supplemental appropriation ordinances allocating funds to replace a leaky hot water heater and to replace an air conditioning unit at the Carroll County health unit, a total of six people spoke during the public comments segment of the meeting. Three of the four expressed opposition to the Nimbus project.

One of those, Mary West of Lampe, Mo., said the Nimbus project will bring more crime to Carroll County and have an adverse effect on the local environment and quality of life.

“You think they care about you, your family?” West asked. “You think all these jobs are going to be here? You really think that? They’re going to bring in people. They’re going to put tents. It’s going to increase the crime. You’re going to have trucks going down these roads, ruining your roads. You’re going to have dust. It’s no longer going to be this quiet, peaceful town. … I know what these city slickers are like. They do not care about you. If you really care about the future, really think about: How do you want this community to look? How do you want it to look? How do you want it to be?”

West encouraged property owners who had signed non-disclosure agreements with Scout to contact Williams.

“If you signed an NDA and you regret it, contact Mr. Williams,” she said. “We usually can white out the name on the NDA and we can get legal help. Believe me, there will be people all around the state that will help us.”

RIVETT RESPONDS After West’s remarks, District 4 JP Hunter Rivett interjected.

“My job is not to represent people from Lampe,” Rivett said. “My job is to represent people from District 4, and I’m not sure they’re so concerned about a lot of the stuff you said. However, they are concerned about what governments can do on individuals’ private property who’ve made agreements. So, what would you have this legislative body or the executives here do about this issue, exactly?”

“I’m not a lawyer but what I would do is simply say no wind farms,” West replied. “Just no wind farms. No wind farms.”

Later, another public commenter, whose name could not be heard clearly in the crowded courtroom, characterized Rivett’s remarks as “rude.” “I will respond in kind,” Rivett said. “I believe what is most rude is goons with guns, which is the government, forcing people to do or not do something. That’s what’s far more rude. What’s far more rude is the philosophy that we are all comrades in this together. That’s the same philosophy that led to gulags. Concentration camps. The same philosophy that we listen to John Audubon and John Muir that, ‘No. No progress ever.’ Right? That’s what they said about the telegraph. That’s what they said about the railroads. That’s what they said about oil. And here we are. It’s not our job to dictate energy policy. I don’t know anything about it. It’s not my job to dictate environmental policy. It’s not the role of the government. … My job is to protect the rights of the people. I swore an oath to do that.”

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Earlier during public comments, Arturo Calvillo was the lone commenter expressing support for the Nimbus project. Calvillo indicated that he has signed an agreement with Scout.

“I thought it was a good deal,” he said. “I hope they fill that mountain up with turbines. I hope they pile ’em up. I hope there’s so many on my place that the blades come together.”

“Mr. Calvillo, do you believe that this government or any other government body should tell you what you can or cannot do on your property?” Rivett asked.

“Absolutely not,” Calvillo replied. “And Mr. Williams mentioned something about not being able to use the road if you’re a private business. Well, I’ve got cattle out there. So do I need to stay off the county road? I mean, that’s a business.”

“It’s not them using the county road,” Williams responded. “They’re going to come in, in violation of state law … they are going to come in with their construction equipment. And I don’t know if they’re going to have a road engineer, if they’re going to be using a licensed, bonded and insured road company. They’re going to rebuild roads to what their needs are. They’re not just going to be transporting stuff up and down that road.”

The next regular meeting of the Carroll County Quorum Court is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the courtroom of the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.