Invenergy, one of the large wind energy firms proposing to erect large windmills in the area, is bypassing the town and the ordinance it enacted to regulate wind farms.

Morrison town zoning administrator Joy Koomen said Invenergy is seeking permits from the state rather than going through the town.

She said state law allows that for larger wind energy facilities.

"I am not happy," town chairman Todd Christensen said.

He said the town ordinance requires wind energy firms to get a conditional use permit from the town. It protects the town in several ways, including requiring financial assurances that the firms would remove wind towers if their projects were abandoned in the future.

Christensen said he understands that the state's permitting process requires a public hearing and suggested that the towns need to participate in that process.

"We as a community have to express our opinions," he said.

Christensen noted that the energy firms are large corporations with significant legal resources - something the town governments don't have.

Christensen also is upset with the formula in state law for utility aid payments to local governments when a power facility, such as a wind farm, is located.

Under the current formula, if a wind energy farm is built in a village or city, the municipality gets two-thirds of the utility aid payments and the county gets one-third.

But if the facility is built in an unincorporated town, the county gets two-thirds and the town one-third. Christensen wants towns to get two-thirds, just like cities and villages.

The Wisconsin Towns Association is trying to get that change enacted into state law. That initiative faces strong opposition from county governments.