Wind Power News: Wisconsin
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Menomonee Falls looks at establishing standards for wind turbines
As the state pushes for more wind energy and fewer local restrictions, Menomonee Falls is one of the first communities in southeastern Wisconsin to tackle the issue, trying to strike a compromise between small windmills and commercial farms.
Village employees began researching the issue after a local resident expressed interest in installing a small wind turbine in his yard to reduce energy costs.
Staff could offer little guidance. The village does not have specific regulations on wind turbines — their size, noise . . .
Fall Creek resident seeking approval of wind energy project
FALL CREEK — A family, the Fall Creek school district and Xcel Energy could all benefit if a 120-foot wind generator is constructed within the village of Fall Creek limits, according to Jeff Burns, who is eager to get approval for the generator on his property.
Burns has approached village of Fall Creek officials about the proposal, which he hopes will be approved in time for possible completion yet this year.
“The (village) board seems excited about it and wants to move . . .
Water woes, wind turbines threatening Horicon refuge, report says
Nearby wind turbines, declining water quality and decreasing water levels at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Wisconsin earned the popular birders’ destination the dubious distinction of being ranked the third most imperiled refuge in the nation, according to a list compiled by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Released every year and based on interviews with refuge staff, the list ranks the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the Hawaii Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex as the first and . . .
Let urban areas try wind turbines
Re: James E. Becher’s letter to the editor about unrealistic local wind siting ordinances (June 9 Tribune):
People who oppose power generation facilities within a mile of their residences serving urban electricity consumers are not NIMBYs. People who live in cities who find wind turbines too dangerous and noisy to locate them in urban areas are NIMBYs. Most of the opponents of commercial wind turbines in residential areas would have no issue with siting a community-serving turbine to serve a landholder . . .
Residents and officials clash over Wisconsin wind-farm standards
A bill that would help determine where wind farms can be built in Wisconsin is sparking debate among people in Monroe County.
Retired farmer Fernnell Becher says it’s been an ongoing debate for years. Invenergy, a Chicago-based company, approached and obtained easements from around 40 county landowners, including Becher and her son. Yet, Becher says local governments prevented the project from moving forward with a recent ordinance that won’t allow wind farms in the area because of its set-back . . .
Wind turbines could be on Great Lakes in 3 years
The first wind turbine development on the Great Lakes could be built within three years or so, experts on offshore wind power said during a conference Wednesday in Milwaukee.
The first project is expected to consist of three to five turbines just off the shore of Cleveland in Lake Erie.
The project is being pushed by the Cuyahoga County government as an economic development strategy to help boost the development of a wind-power manufacturing industry in a state that’s been hit hard . . .
Westby wind energy project stalled
The Westby Wind Energy project, which has been in the works for over three years suffered a set back recently as Eco-Energy and WPPI try to solicit new backing for the project after a number of the major players were forced to scale back their investments due to the nationwide economic crisis.
According to Westby Public Works Director Gregg Hanson, Westby Utilities and it’s power supplier, WPPI Energy, have a vested interest in continuing to pursue and construct the proposed wind . . .
Loss of local control… Again
Once again our legislators in Madison want to deprive us of local control and give it to business entities and bureaucrats. According to the Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, if passed, Senate Bill 185 and Assembly Bill 256, no Wisconsin county, city, village or town could restrict construction or operation of a wind energy system unless the restriction is consistent with rules developed by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
If this scenario sounds familiar it is because the same power grab was . . .
State's wind-power opportunities blowing away
Wisconsin’s path to a greener energy future is anything but a breeze.
Optimism abounds that the wind power sector will create jobs and help reduce the state’s emissions of greenhouse gases. Gov. Jim Doyle’s global warming task force has recommended the state move toward getting 25% of its electricity from wind power by 2025.
And several reports are touting the promise of job creation and emissions reduction from tapping more renewable energy and energy efficiency.
A report being released Monday by the Chicago . . .
What will turbines do to real estate values?
I live in the Arlington wind area and support wind power as an alternative to coal and oil. But for me, this industrial electric wind power generation plant will make our home unlivable. Surrounding property owners should be compensated for the loss of our homes as we may be forced to move.
Perhaps an area should be abandoned, or eminent domain declared similar to what was done for the Badger ammunitions plant. This would prevent absentee landowners from profiting, while an . . .
