Schneider not as innocent as he claims to be
Dear Editor:
On October 26, Bradley Schneider announced that he would be running again for County Judge Executive. In his announcement, he highlighted achievements from the past ten years. From bringing jobs to the area to paving county roads, he emphasized the “wide range of disciplines” required to run the county effectively.
Yet despite all that, it appears that he lacks discipline.
He emphasizes that some will attempt to focus the election on a single issue. My question is: Which issue is he referring to?
Is he referring to attacking colleagues and then denying that he made such statements after the emails were released through a public records request?
Perhaps he is referring to what appears to be the selling out of Henderson County land for the development of Wind Energy Systems (WES) to the Canadian-based company Cordelio Power. This claim is supported by his apparent agreement to a pre-written ordinance sent to him by Cordelio representatives. There is also a trip paid for by Cordelio to look at wind turbines in Illinois, of which we were unaware until a Public Records Request earlier this year (although he denies that these meetings took place).
On November 26, he posted on Facebook, stating in part, “…over the past months, I (Schneider) have faced unfounded, misinformed, and often hateful personal attacks that have crossed the boundaries of typical political discourse…”
If you are a fan of irony like me, you will notice that he makes these remarks after he has insulted and attacked family members of his colleagues simply because they expressed an opinion.
We should approach the elections with the hope of bringing a new voice to the role of CJE after ten years, for Schneider is neither as innocent nor as pro-Henderson as he claims to be.
Joseph Hortin
Henderson
Rebuttal to Mr. Hortin’s letter by Judge-Executive Brad Schneider
Dear Editor:
I am thrilled The Hendersonian has become a place for readers to express opinions in its Letters to the Editor section. Our community has missed a printed forum where contributions are welcome but also fact-checked by the newspaper’s professional staff. That’s what separates responsible journalism from the swamp of misinformation often found on social media. So, it was with a bit of disappointment a Letter to the Editor in the January 2026 edition from Joseph Hortin contained false statements that could have been more stringently vetted. First, he stated my “agreement” to a draft of a sample wind turbine ordinance emailed to me by representatives of the proposed Rock Bluff Energy Park supported a claim by Mr. Hortin’s that it appeared I am “selling out” Henderson County for the project. I did not agree to anything. Rock Bluff leaders emailed that sample ordinance to several local officials to express their opinion about what a new wind ordinance here should contain, just as I have received notes and calls from many other folks offering their opinions about the issue. Furthermore, anyone who is familiar with the process for creating a new ordinance knows one email to the judge-executive means very little, if anything, in developing the final product.
Mr. Hortin also claimed I denied being part of a contingent from Henderson County hosted by Cordelio on a fact-finding trip to a wind turbine facility in Central Illinois. I have never denied that. Why would I? Getting more information about an industry thinking about locating a facility in our county is never a bad thing.
I appreciate the chance to set the record straight.
Brad Schneider
Henderson County Judge-Executive
Correcting misinformation contained in previous letters to the editor regarding wind turbines
Dear Editor:
Good public policy in part rests upon good information. After reading some of the letters to the editor I therefore felt the need to correct some of the misinformation that is contained in those letters about the effect of wind turbines. Contrary to the assertions in those letters the research and data do not support the opinion that wind turbines significantly depress adjoining property values nor does the data support the opinion of high costs and inefficiencies of wind turbines when compared to other ways of generating electricity.
First, the cost issues. One letter opined that the cost of electricity generated by wind turbines does not pay for itself. That is totally incorrect. There is a metric called the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). It measures all the costs associated with the various fuel and generation sources of electricity over their lifetimes—from the initial costs of building the generation source, to its operation, costs of fuel, and finally its decommissioning. As reported in a Wikipedia article on LCOE, a 2023 LCOE study by Lazard reported that wind had the lowest LCOE of all sources, followed by the next lowest, solar panels. Both were only 50% that of coal. In short, wind and solar are the two lowest cost means of producing electricity—and the least likely to contribute to climate change and global warming, issues which concern many of us.
Second, the property values issue. One writer made an unsubstantial assertion that property values around wind turbines might decrease as much as 40%. Recent research and data by real estate valuation professionals, of which I am one, does not support this assertion. Quoting research published by the U.S. Department of Energy, “… data from ‘The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values in the United States: A Multi-Site Hedonic Analysis,’ found that if property value impacts existed, they were too small and/or too infrequent to result in any widespread, statistically observable impact. Follow-up studies in 2015 and 2016 published in the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics and the ‘Journal of Real Estate Research,’ respectively, found similar results, stating that ‘no unique impact on the rate of home sales near wind turbines’ was found. In 2023, Berkeley Lab published its most comprehensive study to date on wind energy projects and their impact on house prices, with data spanning 34 states, 428 unique wind projects, and nearly half a million transactions within 5 miles of U.S. wind projects. The authors found that property value effects were evident beginning after the project was announced and continuing through the construction period, but abated three to five years after operation began. These effects were concentrated in counties with higher population densities and were not evident in rural areas. Similar findings were published by other researchers in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in March 2024.” In fact, the research suggests that the unsubstantial opinions being circulated by the opponents of wind turbines may well be leading to the short-term value loss they fear, rather than the installation of the wind turbines themselves. They may well be being “hoisted on their own petard.”
As Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan noted,” You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” If it is your opinion that you do not want wind turbines, that is your right to have that opinion. But it is not your right to make unsubstantiated assertions to “support” your opinion and then call those assertions, facts, so as to mislead the general public to adopt your opinion.
One final thought. We enjoy electricity that passes through transmission lines that go next to some peoples’ homes. We conveniently travel on interstates and roads that pass close to other people’s houses. We make emergency and personal calls that save peoples’ lives and provide us with connections with family and friends—calls that pass though towers located next to people’s houses. Those people may not have wanted those transmission lines, interstates, and towers so close to their homes—but those inconveniences to them have served to make all our lives better. So, the next time you turn on a light, drive on an Interstate, or use your smartphone to call a friend and check your messages, you are using a service that had to impact someone, somewhere, for your life to be better and to be able to enjoy that service. Perhaps it is worth noting that sometimes something that seems to be inconvenient to us in the short term serves to make a lot of the lives of our neighbors and fellow citizens better in the long term.
G. Herbert Pritchett
Henderson
Renewable situation reminds writer of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’
Dear Editor:
A loud Amen to Rebekah Wood and James Hill whose letters to the editor (in the December 2025 edition) must serve as a wake-up call prior to elections for those whose primary responsibility, only responsibility for that matter, is to protect and serve those who have put them into their elevated positions.
Reading Hill’s letter I am reminded of the little boy in Hans Anderson’s story of the Emperor’s New Clothes. For those who have not read it, I encourage you to do so. It is the story of unscrupulous men who come into a town and are able to secure wealth for themselves by literally weaving a scam. They are able to manipulate the officials of the town to such a degree that the ordinary people of the town, who see right through the scam, feel they have no option but to go along with the nonsense. However, at the back of the crowd, which is assembled to watch the farce play out, there is a little boy. He has the honesty of a child. He knows nothing about the games adults often play to remain in positions of influence and affluence but sees and declares the “naked” truth. He shouts the truth for everyone to hear and gives confidence to the residents to also declare the truth of what they see. Hopefully, Hill’s letter has the same effect when read.
Could it be, Judge Schneider, that there is a waft of bias in the air and for what good reason? How on earth did this whole situation come into being? Did the Canadians close their eyes and stick a pin in a map of the United States, or did they hear of some incentive not available in the vast territory of Canada? Whatever the reason, it has resulted in the Kentucky residents fighting both the energy companies and the local government rather than it all being nipped in the bud had we had “a Justin Elpers” as Commissioner. A member of the Evansville City Council, Elpers truly represents residents over the bridge, and he said “No” to a proposed solar farm and stated that it was not a right fit for his residents and the zoning board agreed. Yes, the residents’ voice was heard.
The Hendersonian keeps us updated with the list of candidates filing for election/re-election. I pray that a person like Justin Elpers puts his name forward.
Kathleen Strout
Henderson
A rebuttal to the ‘loud few’ against renewables
Dear Editor:
I can appreciate people being concerned over companies wanting to build Industrial grade solar and wind farms in Henderson County. I understand how some people do not find the panels/windmills pleasing to their eyes. What does bother me is when locals talk as if they comprehend the possible negatives/benefits of either. People have made claims of the lubricant for the wind farms will pollute the soil below and the mist from it will be harmful, yet we have 120 oil rigs which do not contain the fumes or leaks around them. Henderson County ranks in the top 10 oil pumping counties in the state. Why does this industry have people in this community openly accept while it pollutes our “nature?”
Not one letter was written; social media group made, poster or even flyer designed opposing the coal mine opening in Henderson County. Same for the 120 oil wells in Henderson County which are much uglier and pump out pollution every minute of the day. People want coal mining jobs, yet when the miners get black-lung, we don’t see people stepping up to pay for their healthcare. Why do we not see the demands of the 120 oil rigs be brought to higher standards to prevent the pollution they currently produce in the county where everyone wants to keep our “nature?” People do not seem to mind the look of the rigs.
Others have complained of the risk of fire because our local fire departments lack training on handling the height. There are thousands of windmills and millions of solar panels across the country and fire departments handle any situation. Do we not believe our fire departments are not able to get new training? Are we saying our fire departments would not like to learn new skills? This is one of the poorest arguments I have heard. None of these things would be built overnight so one requirement the County government could impose is training be provided for all fire departments in the county.
The risk of solar or wind farms is minimal in comparison to what we have currently with oil rigs, industry polluting our soil/water, and dirty coal plants that get their coal from cancer causing coal mining. Those are extremely more hazardous than any lubricant which might disperse from a windmill per capita. If anyone actually looked into the issue of safety for windmills after several years of other communities having them around it has been found strict maintenance schedules kept, inspections, and the most up-to-date fire suppression systems installed and maintained drastically cut down the small chance of a catastrophic event such as a fire.
I recognize the need for Henderson to move into the current times in researching, writing, and passing regulations on an industry which has indeed been around for many years. We as a community shoved our heads in the sand for many years believing solar would never come to Henderson. Anyone who travels in northern Indiana, Illinois, Iowa or the states west of those has seen the landscape of farmland dotted with windmills. They are not ugly compared to what we have currently in our fields. Those farmers have recognized the great opportunity to allow part of their land used as a wind/solar farm in which they can also allow their animals to graze while still farming adjacent land. They can get a steady income and still own their land, which is not destroyed for 20-plus years as claimed.
Kentucky ranks at the very bottom of the 50 states in renewable energy despite all our neighbors joining in diversifying their energy production. Example: Solar power production. Kentucky has 1724 MW while Indiana 4242 MW, IL 4944 MW, Ohio 8179 MW, and Missouri 3097 MW. Kentucky has zero for wind. Tennessee has more than us. Other states started back in the mid-2000s building wind/solar and have enjoyed the benefits and working through the trials. These are states north of us yet southern states have a greater advantage.
The comment about “lack of consistent, on demand power” tells me locals really do not understand the power grid when power is in highest demand or how it can be stored. They do not understand the drastic improvements in both forms of energy production and storage just in the last 10 years. Even worse is our leadership has not educated the community to the reality of demand for the next 10-20 years which is coming from data centers. Data centers and Crypto mining have drastically ramped up energy usage in the last 5 years. Researchers showed in 2023 Data centers/Crypto mining consumed 4.4% of energy use but with the growing construction and plans for more centers and AI development they estimate it could reach 14% by 2028. If Kentucky continues to bet only on coal, the state will be drastically affected in the near future.
We should demand more detailed information from other energy companies and researchers, not just the salespeople who have come to Henderson. We should demand our local government put together a comprehensive set of regulations for power companies producing in the county, and we should know how other communities have solved some of the issues people have brought up concerning the risks involved.
Now if you really do not like the look of a windmill dotting the sky and are concerned about the minimal health risks you should be offering a compromise for solar power and a Zinc-Ion battery storage system installation locally. Zinc-Ion do not have the hazards of the Lithium-Ion utility storage as Zinc-Ion are water based. They have a longer life use, and much lower installation costs.
The Fiscal Court had better think about the future for all the members of our county, not just the loud few who want to dictate what the rest of the county/city want. I want to see more tax revenue brought in without being on the back of poor working people like what our legislature has been doing with people like Robby Mills running things. We hear people excited about how their income tax has gone down .25% (one quarter of a percent) but fail to realize the amount of services which are now being taxed cancels it out. The wealthy get huge reduction in what their overall income brings in while the working people and elderly see higher taxes due to the services being taxed. Giving up future tax revenue from Solar/Wind power production and then complaining when our power bills go up due to the higher demand caused by data centers and crypto mining does not make sense.
We deserve leadership in our local, county, and state which will not bow down to special interests (gas/coal) and ‘Karens’ in the community wanting to dictate what the rest of us can do with our own land because they are not able to see a family member’s home a mile away.
Doug Briggs
Henderson
Commends HCHS’ Gentleman’s Club for a job well done
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter representing the Garden Club of Henderson. We would like to recognize the extraordinary work of the Henderson County Gentleman’s Club in assisting us during this year’s Candlelight Christmas Tour.
Under the leadership of President Wyatt Newman and the organizational skills of Events Coordinator, Kingston Davis, our evening was safer for all participants. Twelve young men stood for three hours greeting 500 guests, warning of hazards and reaching out with a helping hand when needed. They were true gentlemen and their parents should be proud.
Mr Chip Crafton is the adult leader of this organization. It has three missions; spiritual, social and service.
As a former teacher, who worked with teens for 35 years, I have been extremely impressed with this group of young men.
Marietta Peckenpaugh
Henderson
