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 and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Wind turbines are not welcomed
Bernard Starzewski’s letter to the editor on May 9 is clear indication of someone who believes in “We the Government” instead of “We the People” as written in the Constitution. Nowhere in the letter does he mention residents of the town of Carlton in Kewaunee County, where the nuclear plant is located, should have a say in what should happen after the decommissioning. Instead Mr. Starzewski pushes his pro-wind propaganda without facts backing his statements. He claims the wind turbines . . .
Lasee urges state action on turbines
DE PERE — State Sen. Frank Lasee states a Canadian judge has ruled construction of wind turbine farms devalues nearby homes and farms. In a news release, the Republican, whose senatorial district includes Two Rivers and the northern half of Manitowoc County, stated, “Developers are ignoring the negative impact on local communities and homeowners here in Wisconsin and in Canada, that’s crazy.” Lasee stated an Ontario judge sided with homeowners near a construction site of property value loss and “even . . .
PSC reopens Highland Wind Farm hearing
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has reopened the hearing related to the Highland Wind Farm project in St. Croix County. After rejecting the developer’s application earlier last month, the PSC said it will allow Emerging Energies officials to provide further proof that their project, as proposed, would meet state standards and thus deserves approval. At its meeting last week, the PSC commissioners voted 2-1 to allow further testimony in the matter. Chairman Phil Montgomery was the key vote, as . . .
Boards tell developer wind turbine plan is ‘incomplete’
TOWN OF HOLLAND — Developers of a controversial wind farm proposal were told a report they presented Wednesday night was incomplete. Hubertus-based EEW Services, LLC, made its first proposal to build a wind farm in the Town of Sherman at a joint meeting of supervisors from the Town of Sherman and Town of Holland. Supervisors unanimously voted the application was incomplete because it failed to address numerous requirements in both the town ordinances and Public Service Commission requirements. Town attorney . . .
Wisconsin PSC votes to reopen Emerging Energies’ wind farm application
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is reopening Emerging Energies of Wisconsin LLC’s application to build a 102.5-MW wind farm, allowing the developer to re-argue a portion of its case about noise compliance without filing a new application. Regulators denied Emerging Energies’ application to construct a wholesale merchant wind plant because the company failed to demonstrate that the installation would comply with state restrictions on nighttime noise, according to a final order dated March 15. Emerging Energies responded with a . . .
A proposed western Wisconsin wind farm, rejected in February, gets another try
Plans for a wind farm in western Wisconsin, rejected nearly three months ago, blew back to life on Thursday. The state Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to give developer Emerging Energies, of Hubertus, a chance to offer new information showing that the proposed Highland wind farm would meet state noise standards. In February, the PSC voted 2-1 against the $250 million project, which involves erecting more than 40 turbines over 26,000 acres in the towns of Forest and . . .
In reversal, PSC agrees to take second look at $250 million wind farm
A developer’s plan to build a $250 million wind farm in western Wisconsin isn’t dead after all. The state Public Service Commission on Thursday voted to approve developer Emerging Energies’ request for a rehearing, given new evidence the company submitted to show it can comply with Wisconsin’s wind turbine noise rules. The PSC’s vote was 2-to-1. Phil Montgomery, the PSC chairman who had initially voted to reject the project, agreed to grant the request. He was supported by commissioner Eric . . .
Wind Power: Cutting the Spin
Julie Cupery’s dairy farm in rural Columbia County is home to six of the 90 industrial wind turbines that make up Glacier Hills, the largest wind energy project in Wisconsin. “Renewable energy was really high on everybody’s list and…have to be honest…the money was good,” said Cupery when talking about her family’s decision to allow windmills on their property. WE Energies pays Julie $5,000 per year for each windmill on her land. Completed in 2011, Glacier Hills was one of . . .
Small town caught in wind farm vortex pays $50,000 to settle suit over sign ordinance
Windmills generate a lot more than electricity around Morrison, a small town in Brown County. Plans for more of the giant turbines have spun up a deep philosophical split between neighbors who favor or oppose wind farms. As more towers arose, so did big yard signs opposing wind energy over fears that it presents a threat to public health and safety, and decrease property values. But Morrison town officials — some of whom had signed contracts to allow turbines on . . .
Town agrees to pay in civil case
A civil lawsuit filed against the Town of Morrison has been settled. And the town will have to pay $50,000 to the people who filed the lawsuit. It was almost a year ago when Jon and Lori Morehouse along with James and Barbara Vanden Boogart filed a lawsuit against the Town of Morrison. The federal suit claimed the couples freedom of speech was being violated because the town had an ordinance on the books that prohibited signs, that expresses an . . .
