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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind turbine collapse in Dodge County under investigation
Dodge County, Wis. (CBS 58) – Neighbors in rural Dodge County woke up to quite the shock Thursday morning when a NextEra Energy Resources wind turbine collapsed in the middle of the night. While it isn’t clear what caused the incident at Butler Ridge Wind right now, neighbors nearby say it was quite a shock when this all happened Wednesday night, but not something that they’re overly concerned about. “We heard a really loud boom and thought maybe one of our . . . Complete story »
‘Absolutely crazy’: Wind turbine in Dodge County collapses
A neighbor tells WISN 12 News the impact shook their home. Dodge County, Wis. – Wednesday night the blades and top portion of a wind turbine came crashing down to the field below in a rural area of Dodge County, near the town of Herman. The impact scattered massive pieces of debris across the ground. Nobody was hurt. “The one that lives on top of the hill right there and the farm right behind us, they said that they both heard . . . Complete story »
Menasha Corp. removes its five wind turbines along I-41 in Neenah
Reader question: I only just now noticed that Menasha Corp. took down its wind turbines. What the heck? Out for repairs? Answer: This is one of several questions I received regarding the five wind turbines that Menasha Corp. had in front of its headquarters at 1645 Bergstrom Road in Neenah along southbound Interstate 41. Kristi Pavletich, director of corporate communications, said Menasha Corp. removed the 115-foot wind turbines because Renewegy, the Oshkosh company that manufactured and installed the wind turbines, . . . Complete story »
Bill targets farmland conversion for industrial wind and solar facilities
A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) targets federal subsidies for renewable energy by banning taxpayer funding for the conversion of working farms to industrial-scale wind and solar power-generating facilities. HR 6857, the Future Agriculture Retention and Management Act (FARM Act) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the energy credit shall not apply to certain types of energy production on agricultural land, and for other purposes.” Tiffany’s bill would not bar developers from . . . Complete story »
Eagle killing is big news, but where’s wind farm outrage?
Recently the depravity of a person who shot an eagle made headlines in our state. What explains the lack of headlines about the depravity of building a windfarm near the Lake Michigan flyway in Sheboygan County? Why the silence about how the tips of those huge windmill propellers, moving at speeds of 125 to 180 mph in a brisk wind, treat passing birds like golf balls on a driving range? Is it just that a single American eagle is a . . . Complete story »
Wind farm plan sparks blowback in rural areas
The Town of Belgium’s recent updates to its zoning and land division ordinances, measures designed in part to regulate solar energy projects, have triggered questions about a different kind of renewable energy this month. Town resident Perry Handziak asked if the town could prevent wind farms or regulate where they are placed. “That’s a really good question. We actually delayed adoption of this by one meeting just so we could look at the wind,” Zoning Administrator Charlie Parks said. He . . . Complete story »
Iowa regulators deny requests to halt construction of controversial power line
Iowa utility regulators say work can continue on a power line between Dubuque and Middleton despite a court order blocking the Mississippi River crossing. The Iowa Utilities Board on Tuesday denied petitions by power line opponents who sought to halt construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project in light of a federal judge’s ruling that it could not cross the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Opponents argued that without the crossing the line cannot fulfill its purpose of . . . Complete story »
FARM Act would halt subsidies for sacrificing farmland to the ‘green energy’ industry
The conflict in Ukraine is reminding the Western world about the importance of energy independence and food security. World leaders, including the Biden administration, argue we must increase wind and solar energy production to reduce dependence on Russian energy. But as Russia’s invasion has demonstrated, this strategy already failed and, in fact, helped bring this war about in the first place. By strangling U.S. energy producers, the White House has fueled skyrocketing oil prices and enriched Russia’s rulers. An added . . . Complete story »
Company assessing possibility of wind turbines
SHEBOYGAN – In December, a developer filed a preliminary proposal to build wind turbines in Sheboygan County. The filing sparked interest and concerns from many residents. The developer, BluEarth Renewables, Inc., said earlier this month the filing was part of “very, very early stages” of work to assess the viability of wind turbines in the area, and BluEarth has not decided whether it will propose a project in Sheboygan County. “We do not have a project plan in Sheboygan County . . . Complete story »
Cardinal-Hickory Creek: Utilities appeal, say power line delays jeopardize clean energy delivery
Utilities seeking to build a controversial power line connecting Iowa and Wisconsin are appealing a court decision blocking the Mississippi River crossing and say construction delays could leave the power grid more vulnerable to blackouts, limit clean energy production and lead to higher electricity prices. Earlier this year, federal Judge William Conley sided with four conservation groups that sued to stop the $492 million Cardinal-Hickory Creek line, finding the environmental review was inadequate and the project is incompatible with the . . . Complete story »
