FOR THE LMEF/LMEC POSITION AGAINST INDUSTRIAL WIND FARMS, PLEASE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, or you can cut and past the following link to your browser to see information about these massive wind farms.
www.marshallcountyIN-windfarm.blogspot.com
Thank you for your support against this community changing issue!
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Lake Maxinkuckee is a 1,854 acre natural glacial lake that has a recorded depth of 88′. It is located in Marshall County, Indiana and has the Town of Culver and the Culver Academies on its shores.
Considered the most researched lake in Indiana, one early study was begun in 1899 by the (then) U. S. Fish Commission. Many fascinating details of this 13 year study are recorded in a two volume book titled Lake Maxinkuckee, A Physical and Bilogical Survey written by Evermann and Clark and published in 1920 by the (then) Department of Conservation – State of Indiana.
In 1981, individuals from around the Lake Maxinkuckee community joined together and formed an environmental group now known as the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund and Council. Studies were completed, wetlands built, relationships developed.
Through much hard work, the LMEC and members of the community have been so successful that, today, the latest ratings of the United States Environmental Protection Agency show that Lake Maxinkuckee contains some of the most pristine water in the State of Indiana.
The work of the LMEC is supported 100% by donations and grants. Our mission is “working toward the preservation of an ecologically sound Lake Maxinkuckee and its surrounding watershed.”
THE LAKE MAXINKUCKEE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL (LMEC) AND THE LAKE MAXINKUCKEE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND (LMEF) WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY AND COMMENT UPON STATEMENTS MADE IN NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCE’S PAID ADVERTISEMENT IN THE CULVER CITIZEN ON AUGUST 11, 2011.
IN RESPONSE TO NEXTERA’S PROPOSAL TO INSTALL WIND TURBINES EAST OF CULVER, THE LMEC ON TWO OCCASIONS AGREED TO MEET WITH NEXTERA REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SURROUNDING NEXTERA’S PLANNED WIND FARM. THE COUNCIL BELIEVES THE NEXTERA AD IMPLIED THAT, AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS, LMEC HAS ENDORSED NEXTERA’S PROPOSED WIND FARM.
THIS IS INCORRECT! THE TRUTH IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. AS A RESULT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND OUR RESEARCH INTO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS REPORTED AT EXISTING WIND PROJECCTS, THE LMEC AND LMEF DO NOT ENDORSE THE PROPOSED WIND FARM.
LMEC AND LMEF NOTE THAT THERE IS LITTLE INDICATION AT THIS TIME THAT THE LAKE’S WATER QUALITY WOULD BE DEGRADED BY THIS PROJECT. THAT SAID, THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE WATERSHED AREA, AS WELL AS ALL OF SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY, INCLUDES MANY MORE FACTORS THAN JUST WATER QUALITY – ALL OF WHICH ARE OUR CONCERN.
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTATION THAT WIND TURBINES ELSEWHERE HAVE CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS AND BATS, VITAL FOR INSECT CONTROL, AS WELL AS CAUSED NEGATIVE EFFECTS UPON LIVESTOCK.
WHAT’S MORE, MEDICAL RESEARCH HAS PRODUCED STATISTICS SHOWING ALARMING NEGATIVE EFFECTS UPON HUMANS. THE NOISE FROM ROTATING BLADES, REPORTEDLY HEARD OVER LONG DISTANCES, PLUS THE SHADOW FLICKER OF MOVING BLADES HAVE BOTH CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE. A CONDITION CALLED WIND TURBINE SYNDROME – WHICH INCLUDES HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND MOTION SICKNESS – CAN BECOME SO SEVERE THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO MOVE FROM THEIR HOMES.
THE POSSIBLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS UPON ANIMAL AND HUMAN LIFE IS OUR HIGHEST CONCERN. HOWEVER, ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WOULD BE THE SIGHT OF THESE 450 FEET TALL BEHEMOTHS TOWERING OVER MARSHALL COUNTY. NEXTERA’S REPRESENTATIVES SHOWED LMEC A DEPICTION OF THE VISUAL EFFECTS FROM CULVER’S TOWN PARK. LMEC FOUND THE IMAGES EXTREMELY DISTURBING, EVEN AT PLACEMENTS SEVERAL MILES FROM LAKE MAXINKUCKEE.
IN SHORT, THE LMEC AND LMEF BELIEVE THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR NEGATIVE IMPACTS UPON MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT IS SIMPLY TOO SERIOUS TO RISK THE INSTALLATION OF THESE MASSIVE MACHINES SO CLOSE TO OUR POPULATION. UNLESS AND UNTIL PROPONENTS OF THESE WIND TURBINES COME FORTH WITH INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE THAT NONE OF THESE RISKS WILL BEFALL OUR COMMUNITY, THE INSTALLATION OF WIND TURBINES SHOULD BE DENIED IN MARSHALL COUNTY.