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Henry County divided over wind farm proposal

Posted at 11:09 PM, Apr 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-19 23:09:28-04

HENRY COUNTY, Ind. -- A battle over wind turbines is brewing in Henry County.

Landowners have already been approached by a Texas-based firm to allow them to place the giant turbines on their property.

Governmental agencies have not approved plans, and some residents want to keep it that way.

Texas-based Calpine Corporation wants to build 80 to 100 wind turbines in the northern quadrant of Henry County.

"They are talking about 499-feet-tall wind turbines. It's scary," said wind farm opponent Eric Painter. "It's scary that they are ready to vote on something that they have not done their homework on. It's scaring us to be honest."

Calpine says the turbines are safe and reliable, along with bringing a lot of long-term benefits to the community.

The company would like to start producing electricity in Henry County by 2018. A Henry County Planning Commission meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. The Calpine proposal wasn't on the agenda, but members of the group opposed to the wind farm said they would come to demonstrate their strength.

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