The Voice of a Teenager
Printed in Frank Lasee’s Notes March 1, 2012
A real world example of a teenager’s experience -
Glenmore, WI (just outside of Denmark, west of Hwy 43):
To Concerned Officials of Wisconsin:
Since I am not old enough to vote or sign a petition, I would like a chance to voice the truth. On May 8, 2011 I left my home in Glenmore, Wisconsin due to many health problems that are a result from the Shirley Wind Project built at the end of 2010. Inside my home, I was able to detect when the turbines were turning on and off by the uncharacteristic sensation in my ears. I could not hear or see the turbines at the time, I could feel them. In early 2011, I had been noticing extreme headaches, ear pain and sleep deprivation, all three things that were either a rarity for me, or nonexistent. This caused me to struggle especially with my school work. I could not concentrate due to pressure releasing from my head, or to the fact that I had very little sleep. After staying away from my home for a week and a half, my symptoms started to subside. I could sleep again, and my headaches were lessening. The longer I was away, the better I felt.
Due to our turbine related health issues, I spent all summer living in a camper with my family away from the turbines, only returning to the Shirley area when necessary. It would take me around three days after being in the area for my ears to drain and for pressure to release from my head, making it tolerable. At the end of August, my family reluctantly purchased another small house away from the wind turbines, leaving us paying two mortgages. Through no fault of our own, this has put a financial burden on my family.
I have not been in the Shirley area since November 19, 2011, and I do not experience headaches anymore and I can sleep soundly. My ears, however, are still sensitive to the cold, loud noises and they hurt with every cold I get. This has never been a problem for me in my entire life, and I wonder if this damage to my ears will ever go away.
I am not sure how many sixteen year olds write to you, but the magnitude of this issue is of utmost importance to me and many other citizens living near the Shirley industrial wind turbines.
When contemplating wind turbine siting, think of me.
A Teenage Victim of the Shirley Wind Farm
Relocated from De Pere, WI
