Milwaukee-based WE Energies wants to build a 90-turbine, 234-megawatt wind farm located between the Columbia County villages of Cambria and Friesland. ... The project would gather power from up to 90 turbines, each with a half-acre footprint, by using up to 50 miles of 50-foot-wide corridors for collector cables. Twenty miles of permanent roads would be used to access the turbine sites, according to the application.

The wind turbine is a symbol of an alternative to an oil-based economy. But on radar, it looks like a storm. That has raised concerns that a proliferation of wind farms could result in the appearance of severe weather where there is none, and even false weather alerts. That collision of weather and wind technology adds some new dimensions to this year's tornado season, which officially kicks off this week with Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Tim and Robyn Wood don't have to sweat over the electric bills for their Oregon home. More often than not, their utility company - Wisconsin Power & Light of Madison - pays them for electricity. With a 24-panel solar array for electricity, a separate solar panel system for the water heater and a small wind turbine, the Woods' home is still connected to the state's grid of electric transmission lines. But for the most part, the Woods power their own lights, laundry machines, computers, television and other household appliances. "I use power whenever it's cloudy out and there's no wind. But when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining, I make enough power that I can turn my meter backward," Tim Wood said.

The La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the request of La Crosse Farms Wind Project LLC to install the second tower at a meeting Tuesday night. The towers will collect data over the next few years to see if the area would support a wind turbine farm.

Editor's Note This is essentially a 'how to' guide for wind energy developers based on issues and problems encountered prior to July 2004.

Almost five years ago, a group of people in the Town of Marshfield (FDL County) joined together to try to stop the wind development in that Town from being 'ramrodded' through the Town Board. Some of the Board stood in line to get money for towers; when in fact, they already had received money for their "consideration". That group of people eventually filed a court action against the Town. The same storyline is accurate for other towns in that County. Now, people come forward and say they wish someone had done or said something to prevent what happened. The fabric of the community is tattered at best. The amount of angst, distrust, and hatred in the area is so thick you can cut it with a machete. Everyone seems to be blaming someone for something they did. The landowners are even squabbling amongst themselves. Why didn't someone do something?

Decisions on electricity needs challenge all of us to use the best reasoning skills we have to solve real problems. The issues are many, and the evaluations of them are complex.

Alliant Energy has received unanimous approval to build a large wind farm in Fond du Lac County, although the utility still has to decide how it will finance the project. The state Public Service Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm for Wisconsin Power & Light Co. -- Alliant's state utility unit. It will be the first wind farm owned by the company.

Our ridges are not a good fit for these massive towers.

Q. Even considering all of those factors or weaknesses, what is your conclusion regarding the impact on residential property values from the proposed project?

A. Under certain circumstances as described in my report, the negative impact may be similar. Also, in significant view loss situations, as described in my report, I would conclude that, within a reasonable degree of professional certainty, land values may be negatively impacted 17% - 20%.

Editor's Note: Mr. Zarem argues that the appropriate methodology for estimating the 'view' impact of industrial wind turbines on property values is 'paired data analysis'- defined in the The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal as: “A quantitative technique used to identify and measure adjustments to the sale prices or rents of comparable properties; to apply this technique, sales or rental data on nearly identical properties are analyzed to isolate a single characteristic’s effect on value or rent.” In the absence of relevant view/turbine data, he derived an alternative paired data analysis for determining view impacts on property values due to wind turbines from Transmission Line view impacts on the prices of single-family residential lots in subdivisions...as...sufficient paired data isolating the effects of view loss due to Transmission Lines exist in the marketplace to reach reasonable conclusions as to market tendencies. This data isolates impacts due to view loss associated with Transmission Lines.

MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin Power and Light Company today filed an application with state regulators to develop a Fond du Lac County wind farm project. The project consists of about 40 wind turbines across 12-point-two square miles in the towns of Eden and Empire. The wind farm would generate enough electricity to power 20-thousand 500 homes.

TOWN OF WRIGHTSTOWN — A representative of Invenergy LLC told the town of Wrightstown Plan Commission Wednesday that it wants to put up high-tech wind turbines to generate electricity in five towns in rural southern Brown County.

By the time you read this column, the Monroe County Board will have taken action on amending the county zoning ordinance. And likely the division between neighbors over the issue will unfortunately be deeper.

The winds of change are blowing steadily on Friesland Road in northeast Columbia County as two major players in energy — Midwest Renewable Energy Corp. and FPL Energy, an affiliate of Florida Power and Light — each plan to construct wind farms in 2008. For the past three years, both renewable energy companies have been courting farmers in that area to lease land for the construction of wind turbines. The leases under option agreements run between 20 and 25 years long for farmers who decide to sign with either company.

I finally decided to write my opinion on the wind turbine towers. Actually it's more my personal experience. ...I would challenge anyone who thinks wind turbines make little or no noise to live next to one 24/7 for two weeks straight. Then they might be qualified to speak accurately on the subject. The wind turbines are noisy!

The Assembly endorsed 94-0 an energy bill that would require 10% of the state's electricity to be generated by wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable energy sources by 2015.

GLENMORE - The concerns aired by residents Tuesday night in response to Tom Mattson's wind-turbine proposal were nothing new - noise pollution, decreasing property values and liability. The board will discuss and vote on the project at its June 4 meeting. But as with previous wind-turbine proposals that went before the town for permits, residents wanted assurances from Tom Mattson of Suamico-based Prelude LLC that the seven turbines he wants to build will have a minimal effect on their community, health and property value.

Currently this is an area known for agriculture, rural residential and recreational. Following the guidelines in the ordinance, commercial wind farms will change the character of the ridge and of the county. Is this acceptable? Will land values be affected? Do economic advantages outweigh any problems that may develop? Monroe County residents need to be involved. Come to the public hearing to share your thoughts.

Proponents of generating more electricity from self- sustaining resources like wind, landfill gases and water are promising big things for Wisconsin's economy if they get their way.