January 13, 2008
Wisconsin

Wind farm timeline

2004

# Plans for a 133-turbine wind farm in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties are unveiled.

# Horicon Marsh Systems Advocates (HMSA) organization is formed to fight wind farm.

2005

# The Wisconsin Public Service Commission issues a certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Invenergy Wind LLC of Chicago for a 200-megawatt wind farm called Forward Energy Center in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.

# We Engeries purchases Blue Sky Greenfield Wind Farm from Navitas Energy of Minneapolis.

# HMSA files petition in Dodge County courts to review PSC plan for wind farm and its impact on migratory birds.

# PSC approves two-mile buffer from Horicon Marsh for the Forward Energy Center.

2006

# Dodge County judge upholds PSC’s order approving construction of wind farm. Opponents, HMSA vow to appeal case.

# A moratorium on wind farms across the nation is issued as the U.S. Department of Defense studies the potential impact of wind turbines on military radar.

# The Federal Aviation Administration approves permit for 133-turbine wind farm in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties despite an ongoing study by the Department of Defense.

2007

# Officials from the Blue Sky wind farm project in Calumet and Marshfield townships hope to begin construction this year on 88-turbine project.

# Alliant hopes to get PSC approval for Cedar Ridge wind farm in townships of Eden and Empire for a 40-turbine project.

# Court of Appeals affirms Dodge County Circuit Court judge’s ruling that construction can begin on Forward Energy Center. Despite losing their appeal, HMSA vows to monitor the project and alert authorities about dead migratory birds, which could result in large federal fines for both Invenergy and landowners hosting turbines.

# Construction begins on wind towers in the Forward Energy Project.

# Wisconsin Power and Light of Madison breaks ground on wind power project in Eden and Empire townships.

# We Energies begins pouring foundations for $200 million Blue Sky Green Field project near the East Shore of Lake Winnebago.

2008

# Eighty-six turbines in the Forward Energy Center are expected to be operational by April.

# First Cedar Ridge turbine to be erected in July; commission turbines to begin operation by December.

# Blue Sky Green Field has 12 turbines up that will start operating in February. All 88 should be on line by May.

Fond du Lac Reporter

13 January 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/13/wind-farm-timeline/