Folks Pack the Courthouse For Wind Energy Meeting

About 140 citizens showed up to the Fayette County Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, June 27, to hear public comments about the proposed Mustang Wind project.

No one spoke in favor of the wind farm that Apex Clean Energy wants to build north of Schulenburg. Ten of them spoke in opposition to the project. County Judge Dan Mueller started the meeting by addressing the limited authority of the county government to intervene in this matter.

“It is rare for this court to take up an agenda item when we have no ability to pass judgment on that item,” Mueller said. “I want to make it clear: this court has no control over private property rights. This is a non-action item only. The only aspect of this issue is the possibility that this entity may request a tax abatement. They have made no such request, and if they make such a request, I think, they are aware that the prospects of this court agreeing to a tax abatement are bleak at best.”

Swiss Alp resident Tammy Jo McCleney has led the landowner opposition against Apex. McCleney spoke first at the meeting.

“I’ve been asked to speak on behalf of hundreds if not thousands of neighbors here in Fayette County,” McCleney said. “In less than 14 days, we have already gathered 1,148 signatures for our petition.”

McCleney presented a map of the proposed project area. The map showed every tract of property within the area, with landowners opposed to the project shaded in red.

“We’ve only had four days to work on this and we have lots of people who still want to get on the map,” she said.

McCleney said Apex has “secretly come into Fayette County.”

“They’re trying to bring in up to 80 wind turbines,” she said. “These turbines will be 600 feet tall in one of the highest and most beautiful parts of Fayette County. Let me repeat - 600 feet tall. That’s taller than the Washington Monument and twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. These turbines will have flashing red lights and will be seen across the entire County at night.”

McCleney said property values will plummet, residents will hear constant humming sounds, the large blades will cast constantly-moving shadows.

In some cases, she said, property owners will lose their agricultural exemption for property taxes. However, Chief Appraiser Richard Moring of the Fayette County Appraisal District told the Record that may not be the case (read more about this in Friday’s paper).

McCleney said the windmills will also negatively impact livestock and wildlife. McCleney noted instances of wind turbines catching on fire. She said the volunteer fire departments in Fayette County do not have equipment tall enough to put out a fire 600 feet in the air. She raised questions about how the windmills will be demolished and disposed of once they reach the end of useful life.

“We ask you to protect us and share all the infonnation with us by calling emergency sessions until the situation is resolved,” she said. “You have an army of very talented volunteers willing to help. We ask the Commissioners to step up and fight with us.”

James Riley spoke next. Riley said he lives north of Schulenburg.

“We moved here because of the beauty of the place,” Riley said. “The bottom line for me is that the government is responsible for protecting our property, our rights. I think TJ hit the nail on the head. All of us are going to lose money, in terms of property value, and with increasing taxes ... The priority should be to protect the property of the people who already live here.”

Michale Gatlin, who lives near O’Quinn, asked whether the Commissioners Court could implement regulations to make it harder for wind power companies to operate in Fayette County.

Former Flatonia Mayor Dennis Geesaman asked the Commissioners to pass a proclamation stating their public opposition to wind turbines in Fayette County.

Ken Demehl of La Grange said the issue affects the entire County, not just southern part of the County. Demehl said some of the windmill opponents have contacted State Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

“She advised that our County Commissioners request environmental and agricultural studies from the following agencies: TCEQ, Texas AgriLife, and Texas Parks and Wildlife,” Demehl said. “She said those studies need to be done, especially since there’s an eagle’s nest. Some of you may not know, but under federal law turbine companies can apply for an exemption to the Endangered Species Act.”

Debra Maddox, manager at Fayette Regional Air Center, said die windmills could impact aircraft flight safety.

“This is very close to the airport, and it’s actually in line with the instrument approach for Runway 34,” Maddox said. “I didn’t realize these things would be 600 feet or higher. That’s pretty significant.”

Maddox said Apex needs to consult with the Federal Aviation Authority before building such tall structures within the flight path to the runway.

Dylan Stonecipher said his grandmother lives in the middle of the project area.

“Texas is a magical place because there’s not a lot of government regulations, not a lot of overreach,” Stonecipher said. “I think Apex, an out-ofstate company, has seen that and comes to take advantage of that view. We shouldn’t have to ask the government to solve that problem. I’m open to all the options here - proclamations, ordinances. I’ve asked if it’s within your authority to enact zoning ordinances. There’s been a lot of success in the past with essentially zoning out these opportunities for these companies. That’s one way. The other way is for the people of Fayette County to say no.

“People have a right to enjoy their property,” he added. “They have a right to look out and enjoy the sunset.”

The next speaker was Emily Mendel, who said she moved to Fayette County in the fifth grade.

“I was driving through Flatonia the other day and decided that everything will be ruined from those things,” she said. “The wonderful drives we have, the people who come visit us from all over, everything will be mined from those things. Everything. I hope Fayette County stands up for what’s best for Fayette County.

Former County Judge Ed Janecka also spoke against the wind project at last Thursday’s meeting.

“Unfortunately there are some people outside the County that want to make a buck off of us,” Janecka said. “That comes down to greed. Whether it be the subdivisions around Round Top -1 wonder what’s going to happen to the water table in Round Top when they start drilling all these wells - or this. It falls under the same category. They don’t care about us. They have some people in wherever-the-hell, Washington or whatever, and they’re supporting them, trying to make money off it.

“There are two things you can do,” he said. “One thing is the Commissioners Court could sign a resolution in opposition to this. It has no standing, but at least the companies trying to do this would understand you are the representatives of the County and you are opposed to it. But the biggest thing we could be doing is talking to neighbors. Make sure none of your neighbors are signing off on this absurd thing.”

Pet. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann said he requested the discussion period at the meeting to give citizens a platform to oppose the Mustang Wind project. He echoed Janecka’s call for citizens to reach out to their neighbors.

“Don’t be rude to them,” Brossmann said. “Don’t get mad, because then they’re going to shut down if they’re on the fence about it. The best thing you can do is educate them. I know these companies are coming in and throwing a lot of money out there. Right now times are hard for a lot of different families. A lot of people are seeing the money and reaching out. But you can explain to them the long-tenn effects, what’s going to happen to their land - I’ve seen 30 years with two 10-year options, that’s 50 years that your land is going to be tied up.”

Brossmann pushed back on the suggestions from Sen. Kolkhorst for the County to request environmental studies.

“That sounds fine and dandy that she pushes this on the County government to stop it,” he said. “But they’re the ones at the Capitol. They’re the ones that pass all this stuff. They’re the ones throwing all this money at green energy. They’re at the top. They don’t need to put it on the people at the bottom. That’s not right. They need to do their job. They need to fight for us.”

Brossmann said the County Attorney’s office has been in contact with the Texas Association of Counties and other organizations to learn more about the issue and what the County government can do.

“I can promise you, there’s a lot of work being done behind closed doors,” he said.