Citizen Responds to Commissioners Over Wind Farm Rumor

By Gordon HopkinsRumors that a church in Jefferson County will be closed to benefit a proposed wind farm continue to circulate despite county commissioners’ insistence it is not true. A member of the public interpreted commissioners’ statements as a personal attack and responded during a meeting on Tuesday morning, September 20, 2022.Danielle Schwab, is a member of two groups pushing for greater setbacks for wind turbines, a Facebook group called Jefferson County Wind Watchers (JCWW), and REIN (Renewable Energy Information Network) Nebraska, Inc.At the meeting, commissioner Gale Pohlmann told Schwab, “I want to follow up, Danielle, with what I told you a couple of weeks ago. I want you to be aware that I had a young mother call me that heard the rumor, concerned all of a sudden, wanting to get her child in confirmation class.”Pohlmann added, “I hope it (the rumor) don't get to our elderly.”While no one cited Schwab as a source of the rumors, Pohlmann did note in a previous meeting that he believed the source was a member of JCWW, according to, “a very reliable source.”JCWW has engaged an attorney, Scott Gropp of Gropp Law and Mediation, LLC, a law firm based out of Wilber. Gropp also serves as Public Defender for Jefferson County. FJN reached out to Gropp for a comment. Gropp responded, “I have no knowledge of any such statements from my client, JCWW, or any members of said group.”Schwab had a written statement prepared in response. For the sake of accuracy and fairness, FJN has opted to print her response in full:“Well, I wasn't going to read this but now you've inspired me, so I will. I wrote it down because I get jumbled when I get put on the spot.“So, I'm tired of hearing about how you are all disappointed. Let's talk about some disappointment. I'm disappointed that when this started, there was talk of we need to all get along. But when a person comes to a public meeting to voice their opinions, which you have said in the past you wish more people would, they feel intimidated, as they might be interrogated by the media, verbally accosted for showing up, have comments cut off or not allowed.“I’m disappointed that we're focusing on rumors, drama, and trying to find scandal rather than doing due diligence to important decisions that will affect the entire county for years and years to come.“I'm disappointed that I can't bring my child to the fair without him overhearing cuss words from professionals without apologies. Or being asked who is paying for us to come to these meetings to voice our opinions.I am disappointed by a majority of large landowners who are for the project, thinking it is okay for my child's health to be potentially affected, and to be told by people in powerful positions that I'm lucky that they even let me live in the country.I'm disappointed that Kesha (Eldridge, founder of REIN Nebraska) and I have made very easy phone calls to Diller-Odell superintendent, the Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Game and Parks and several others, to fact check information. Information that should have already been out there and discussed before we even found out this was happening.“I guess I was naive to think that the government would not be swayed by big pocket books and that local officials would truly have the best interest of the entire county and all its citizens, as it says on its official website.“I have tried to be professional, not perfect. I distanced myself from the drama. I have not slandered anyone online personally. And yet I and Kesha have both felt the wrath and the heat, as you are too. And I absolutely admit you're getting it too. Luckily, I have broad shoulders and I don't need friends. The people that know me and read about me in the paper laugh when they see how biased the points of view are.”“I, and we, will continue to listen and attend weekly as there are many out there who thank us weekly for coming to these meetings and coming to the other meetings because they feel too intimidated or worried about the backlash in their communities. We will continue to educate the citizens on potential concerns both those for and against, we will continue to advocate for safer setbacks for all of our neighbors, including the signers.“I implore you to stop listening to these rumors, trying to find scandal where there's not, and listen to the majority of the constituents who have concerns about this and future projects.“Please do not get all your information from salesmen that are trying to put in a product to make profits. You would not get that advice on any other, you know, object that you were trying to purchase. You would not take one point of view that way. Call around talk to the other counties, talk to states, talk to countries who have had this for longer periods of time with larger scale projects. Do independent research. Get this information out to the public so that they can make informed decisions. This is a decision that will have lasting repercussions for all of us.” There is a moratorium on new wind permit permits as the Planning and Zoning Committee review the regulations currently in place and make recommendations to commissioners for new regulations. Among the regulations under consideration are for setbacks. A number of people have indicated their preference for greater setbacks from such locations as churches, schools and parks. Others have expressed concern that increased setbacks could make the placing of wind turbines on certain properties more difficult, or even impossible.Commissioners have stated on numerous occasions that they do not favor one side or the other in the debate but are attempting to “strike a balance.”Commissioner Michael Dux said, “I'm going to say something, that I have, and I think probably everybody at the hearings, have failed. Because this is not pro or against windmills. This is just setting standards.”Schwab said, “This is a very big deal. Maybe more so than you think. And people are scared. People are angry. People are hurt. So there's going to be drama. I wish that we had control over the 500 people out there that are upset, but we don't.“I was very offended, very offended, about how you made me feel when I was here a couple of weeks ago. I came in after my mother passed away to come here and do my civic duty. And I felt personally attacked by you. And I've had absolutely nothing to do with it. And told you myself had not even heard the rumor myself. I also have gotten phone calls this week from other people from your church verbally attacking me. So, it goes both ways. If you don't want to spread drama, don't spread drama.“That's…yes…but I expected more. I guess I was naïve to think that government was a different way than it was because I remember in the beginning, I told you, I had very little experience with it. Let's just say the experience has not been a good one.”Listen to audio file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13zZIPzQhanp22EmhZursCZOCSOrRIjrs/view?usp=sharing

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