Scandia Proposal (Talking Points) 

Following are talking points aimed at our Mason, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa County Commisioners.  These commissioners are currently deliberating Scandia's request for support as Scandia promotes its proposal to build two 50 square mile wind factories: one in the waters off Mason and Oceana Counties and a second in the waters off Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. 

1.  Tourists and summer residents:  Put simply, many will go elsewhere.  And so will jobs.  Michigan labor market data for 2008 indicate that nearly 40 percent of jobs in Mason and Oceana Counties are tied in some way to tourism.  Our local economy is much more than tourism and summer residents, but a hit to these industries could hurt us all.  

2.   Property Tax Revenue:  Reduced property values have a direct impact on property tax revenue.  And claims that wind turbines don’t affect property values are based on a flawed study according to real estate experts.⁽¹⁾  Further, for many, any such claim in relation to the Scandia project simply doesn’t make sense.  Over time, as properties turn over, a 15 percent or 20 percent reduction in property values means a 15 percent or 20 percent reduction in property tax revenue (compared to what tax revenue would have been otherwise.)  It’s inescapable.

3.   Environmental Impact:  Whether it be bats, birds, fish populations, water pollution, noise pollution, nine foot ice flows damaging turbines, onshore climate changes, or any of a number of other consequences,  we don’t know what the impact will be.  We don’t know what the environmental impact of building  50, 100, or 200 giant wind turbines in our waters will be.  Nor will we know until thorough, objective studies are completed.  And even then, findings will necessarily be provisional.  The truth is we won’t understand all the consequences until the turbines are built, and by then it could be too late.

4.   Wind turbines and jobs:  While temporary construction jobs may be created locally, the promise of permanent jobs being created locally in any significant number is almost certainly illusory.  As reported by ABC News, almost $2 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have been invested in wind power. The result?  “About 6,000 jobs have been created overseas, and maybe a couple of hundred have been created in the U.S.”