Wind Turbines Hurt Property Values

     "Although I don't take a personal position, I base my professional opinion as a realtor, on research that I have done in the geographic areas where windmills have been installed. I talked with realtors in those areas. It was their opinion that the wind turbines negatively effected the property market value by altering the beauty of natural views and disrupting the quiet enjoyment of property. I feel that Bedford County would suffer the same consequences if the wind turbines are installed here."

- WILLIAM KRIZNER, REALTOR

     I have been a full-time realtor in Garret County, Maryland for 13 years, with a sales volume over $100 million ... I specialize in Rural Property Sales.

     Over the past two years, I have had more than 25 prospective buyers look at property in areas within 15 miles of proposed wind plant development.

     As a realtor, I am obligated to disclose everything I know that may have a positive or negative impact on the property. With respect to the possible development of wind power plants in this area, this is what I have disclosed to prospective buyers: There are two proposed wind plants to be located along approximately 20 miles of Backbone Mountain, the prominent ridge that is the dominant geographic feature in the area. The proposed turbines are over 400' tall and may be noisy and produce shadow flicker over the land - large-scale light and dark strobing effects depending upon the way the sun shines through the turbines' blades. I have seen how wind plants near Meyersdale, PA have altered the beauty of the natural views and disrupted the quiet enjoyment of property, resulting in major property devaluations there.

     After this disclosure, not one prospective buyer made any offer for these properties, although they did purchase properties elsewhere.

- RUSSELL BOUNDS, REALTOR

     This is an excerpt from a letter written by Realtor Russell Bounds to the Maryland Public Service Commision on wind plants affecting property values

FACT: Wind turbines go in. Your property value goes down. It's as simple as that.