June 3, 2007
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
A Suamico developer will take his request for seven wind turbines back to the Glenmore Town Board on Monday night.
On April 17, the town Planning Commission gave Tom Mattson of Prelude LLC the preliminary go-ahead for five of the seven turbines he wants to erect.
The commission didn’t approve the other two turbines because another wind-energy company – Emerging Energies/Shirley Wind, LLC of Hubertus – said their proposed locations posed potential conflicts with some of the eight turbines it plans to build.
On May 22, Mattson returned to the board with his plans, but the board didn’t act, asking instead that Mattson provide assurances to residents who are concerned about their property values plummeting.
Mattson wants to put six 500-foot turbines on land owned by Mike and Sandra Zirbel, 6013 Morrison Road (two each on Morrison, School and Shirley roads), and another on land owned by Dennis and Mary Zirbel, 2877 School Road (facing Morrison Road).
Some town residents have balked at the idea of new turbines being built, expressing concerns about decreasing property values, the possible effect of stray voltage on children and animals, noise pollution, liability issues and what would happen if either of the wind energy companies went bankrupt and left the turbines standing.
To alleviate some of those fears, Emerging Energies volunteered a $20,000-per-turbine security deposit for removal of the turbines should they fail to perform as expected.
Emerging Energies played a key role in shaping the town’s wind-energy systems ordinance, with representatives attending town meetings for more than six months as the ordinance was written last year. Glenmore adopted the ordinance in December.
On Tuesday, the town will have a special meeting to make changes to the wind ordinance. That meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the community center, 5718 Dickinson Road.
By Lee Reinsch
3 June 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/06/03/glenmore-board-to-rehear-turbine-pitch/