My schedule opened for attending the Wells County Commissioners’ meeting on 5/6/25. The packed room had two empty chairs down front as I entered the already in progress meeting. Shortly after sitting down, a gentleman named Tim Rost from PCR Wind was called to the scheduled agenda table to address the commissioners. Tim started his address by informing the commissioners that he favors parliamentary procedure such as Roberts Rule. Quickly Mr. Rost draws a picture of the last public hearing referring to the second zoning hearing. He states the meeting was pirated by Eddy County individuals which did not give Wells County any opportunity to speak.

After painting the picture of a run-a-way meeting from Roberts Rules and the lack of commissioners’ control in the hearing, he softens his fleecing of the commissioners by speaking of having empathy for them during the meeting. Now, I did not attend any of the zoning hearings; however, this was a little thick for me.

They say your first impressions are important. After complaining about the Eddy County crowd and trashing those attended, Mr. Rost presents Paul, CEO of PCR Wind, to speak. Paul’s introduction included his sacrifice by rescheduled surgery in order to be available for the commissioners. Who does that? Once the drama scene was set, pitch for flickertail winds development over the last 20 years and investments were highlighted. They have worked long and hard to fulfill state and local level of compliance to reach this stage of permits. When it was all said and done, PCR wind, Mr. Rost, felt the setbacks were set at one mile to prevent the project. He states that the one-mile setback would lose the project.

PCR educates the commissioners on their (PCR) analysis of the project, and it would work at the half mile point. Heck, they claim the health safety of quarter mile. Too real in his sales pitch, Mr. Ross tells the commissioners that they are taking away property rights of the landowner who wants the turbine if they favor those neighbors who do not want it. Now that is a salesman when you pit one person’s health rights against the other persons property rights.

Mr. Ross introduced Randy from Burleigh County. Randy drove all the way from Burleigh County to testify to his satisfaction with wind turbines on his property. Randy was in construction of buildings for wind turbines. Randy testified that townships funding and direct payments to the landowners. The county benefited along with school. He sculpts a picture of community involvement which seemed to please the commissioners. It all sounded so great. I just could not pass the fact that this conversation started with Eddy County people should not have a say in Wells County decision; however, Mr. Ross feels it is ok for Burleigh County individual to influence Wells County.

In my own personal research of Wind Farms, it is stated over and over how they destroy communities. Randy was brought in to overcome that narrative. The ironic part was an Eddy County man sitting in the audience asked to speak. He came to support PCR today in Wells County. He was upset to know that a neighbor was at the Wells County zoning hearing. This Eddy County individual was upset that his neighbor spoke out against the wind turbines. This Eddy County landowner made an announcement that this neighbor will no longer be able to rent land from him as if to assure the commissioners that he will keep his word on this. The video recording captured what I saw in the PCR sale pitch was designed to do. Exactly what my research showed, community splits, the battle between health safety and making money, and laying out punishment for freedom of speech. The Commissioners’ choice will favor one citizen over another. Everlasting damages of relationships and hopefully no health liability of their decisions for county residents in the future. Don’t take my word for it, Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Commissioners took a line of questioning against the strong statements of PCR from the beginning setup. Why can’t PCR do the mile setback plus a variance? The Commissioners need to be careful about the ordinances because they will affect future developments within all Wells County of wind farms projects. If they wrote the ordinance in an open check book fashion, I may find a wind turbine in my porch valley view. Thinking about the gulf course, a quarter mile setback could be a problem on men’s night. The forced return could be deadly, batter up! We find a lot of stray balls within a quarter mile over the fence in previous years.

Even though the image could be funny, just imagine the noise, health issues and more. How much does the view value mean to the gulf course whether you go daily or live in the area 24 hours a day? Perhaps, across from the beach to the west. The zoning decision or commissioners override of the zoning committee is a concern for everyone, not just the few farmers that want to sign a non-disclosure like Randy had to when signing his contract to make some money. Non-disclosure prevents them from saying anything negative about the wind turbines until the end of the contract or they will lose the payment but still have the wind turbine on their land. I don’t personally know Randy, but critical thinking keeps his testimony in perspective. The PeoplePressHarvey channel on youtube.com has all the recordings and more for your viewing pleasure at (2) PeoplePressHarvey – YouTube

The money is tempting, and the love of money is what destroys the communities. Love your neighbor as yourself and protect everyone’s health, not just your pocket.