Four residents of Era, Texas, have filed a petition in Harris County District Court where they alleged that EDP Renewables North America LLC and Wildcat Creek Wind Farm LLC were negligent, created “a private nuisance” and trespassed, according to a report by Law 360 on Dec. 21.
Energy Alliance Policy Director Bill Peacock weighed in on the petition, saying that renewable energy has caused some unforeseen damage for Texans.
“Thousands of Texans all across our state have to live with the fallout of renewable energy subsidies,” Peacock said. “Wind and solar farms scar the Texas landscape and the lives of many Texans. They have to live with roaring turbines, flashing lights, ugly skylines, and lower property values because of projects that would never have been built if the Texas Legislature would have put an end to renewable energy subsidies.”
According to the Law 360 report, the suit refers to a $252 million, 16,000 acere wind farm located in Cooke County. It includes 52 turbines that are about 650 feet tall. The suit says there are turbines close to the family’s working ranch, which contains two residential properties as well as nearby barns.
The family claims that EDP and Wildcat gave misleading information in 2019 at public hearings that were held regarding the wind farm location. They also say that the companies didn’t follow the request of the family to install the turbines away from the property, notably away from their homes. The report said that the family also felt the company did not assess the effects of noise, how the turbines interfere with cellphone reception, the destruction of the landscape and reduction in property values.
The Law 360 report added that the there have been instances where turbines have broken, flung blades and even caught on fire. The family has also said the turbines cause flickering of shadows and noise from the blades spinning, which can lead to health effects like headaches, nausea and seizures. They claim they have had a hard time sleeping, have suffered from depression and have ringing in their ears.
“Wildcat and EDP amplified their oppressive efforts to ensure that adjacent landowners leased them property, and they set about intentionally constructing the wind turbines in areas in such close proximity to the plaintiff's residential properties that they knew or should have known that they would be the most impacted of any landowners within the limits of the wind farm," the lawsuit states.
