http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/35046 Tue, 22 May 2012 05:31:42 GMT Mayor Steven Ponto said he's frustrated that the state has hamstrung local communities with such a broad plan. "Local governments know the needs and desires of their communities better than the state government does," Ponto said. "There should be flexibility on the local governments to make decisions that reflect the needs of the community. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35046 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34189 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:49:50 GMT Sen. Frank Lasee, R-Ledgeview, recently introduced a bill that would allow officials in cities, villages, towns and counties to establish the minimum distance between a wind turbine and a home - even if those rules are more restrictive than any the state tries to enact. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34189 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34019 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:39:36 GMT "Local communities should be able to create their own rules for public safety," Lasee said. "We shouldn't leave it to bureaucrats in Madison to make these decisions that affect home values and people's lives. Madisonites aren't the ones living next to the turbines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34019 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33712 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:45:27 GMT Trustees Harry Manning and Gary Feest were both present and gave their input about the turbines; Manning saying he didn't feel the Planning Commission could move forward without an ordinance. "I think we should consider a stay until the state figures out where its going with turbines," he said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33712 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32319 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:38:47 GMT In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the project came to a halt amid concerns - expressed by board members and would-be neighbors - over noise, the turbine's appearance and possibly decreasing neighbors' property and home values. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32319 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31540 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:53:19 GMT The Legislature's joint committee for review of administrative rules voted earlier this month to temporarily block a wind farm site rule developed by the state Public Service Commission. But that action was only good for 30 days. To keep the rule from taking effect Friday, the committee will meet again Tuesday to consider a bill that would send the issue back to the PSC. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31540 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24486 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:04:20 GMT But building the turbine on the second site — on land adjacent to the Lake Express car ferry at 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive — could violate the state Public Trust Doctrine, according to an opinion by Stuart Mukamal, an assistant city attorney. The doctrine maintains the lakes and rivers belong to all Wisconsin citizens. The public’s right to access the waterways is legally well-established. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24486 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30766 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:39:19 GMT Buried in a regulatory reform bill proposed by Gov. Scott Walker earlier this week lies a provision that wind energy insiders say could shut down 12 wind farm projects, cost investors billions and essentially kill the industry in the state. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30766 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30685 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:38:40 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/30685 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30629 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:51:36 GMT A wind-siting rule that took effect in Wisconsin on Jan. 1 could open the door to wind farms in southwest Wisconsin. The rule provides a path for obtaining a permit to build a wind farm -- as long as the project developers abide by the guidelines established by the state Public Service Commission. If a township opts to regulate a wind-energy power system, its ordinances can't be more restrictive than the PSC's rules. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30629 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28310 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:01:55 GMT "The concern that I have is putting windmills in close proximity to the city limits," Blaha said, after conferring with County Board Chairman Bob Weidner on the issue. Residents' main concern about the project involves setbacks, he said. The Public Service Commission proposed a 1,000-foot setback from property lines and residences. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28310 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23953 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:34:32 GMT [Walter] Wiersma, of Friesland, was one of many people at the standing-room-only hearing who said worries about the health effects, safety and noise from wind turbines in a 17,300-acre area of the towns of Scott and Randolph, should lead the commission to reject the We Energies proposal for Glacier Hills Wind Park. "I'm for green energy," he said, "but I don't want it to hurt my family and friends." The afternoon and evening sessions for the hearing were moved from the Randolph Town Hall to the Friesland Village Hall to accommodate more people. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23953 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23447 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:01:51 GMT Officials in Union and Magnolia townships consider moratoriums on wind turbines to be the temporary answer in response to a new state law. Wind developer EcoEnergy has proposed projects in both communities. Local residents are concerned the new process on siting wind energy systems signed into law this week will erase their work to protect themselves from negative effects. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23447 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23111 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:21:54 GMT How close would you want to live to a wind farm? That's a question lawmakers are considering as they try to create more wind energy projects. State Senators are scheduled Tuesday to vote on a bill (SB 185), which would direct the Public Service Commission to set a statewide set of standards on where turbines could be sited in relation to homes and businesses. As of now, depending on the county, those tall spinning turbines can as be close as 500 feet from homes, or as far away as one mile. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23111 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22538 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:16:59 GMT A state senate panel has advanced a bill that would create a statewide standard for siting wind farms in Wisconsin. But senators changed the plan to add protections for people who live near the massive wind turbines. ...under a provision passed by a senate panel, the PSC would have to consider the health effects of wind turbines when they decide how far to set them back from homes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22538 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22270 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:42:56 GMT Wind turbine construction is off the table in Calumet County for the time being as supervisors regroup from a court decision that invalidated their restrictions on placement of the systems. The Calumet County Board passed a moratorium on turbine construction Tuesday that could remain in effect until the end of the year. It could end earlier should the board change or replace the ordinance. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22270 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22219 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:38:50 GMT A wind energy debate that's turned neighbor against neighbor in Calumet County took a new turn last week through 13 pages prepared by a three-judge panel. A county ordinance that regulated wind turbines is no longer valid, according the state Court of Appeals. Officials said it's too early to tell what the decision will mean to the future of wind energy in Calumet County. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22219 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22136 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:03:54 GMT A Wisconsin appeals court is limiting the restrictions that local municipalities can place on the installation of wind turbines. The District 2 Court of Appeals says state law promotes alternative energy sources such as wind energy and discourages local policies that arbitrarily limit them. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22136 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22150 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:17:25 GMT A Wisconsin appeals court on Wednesday effectively struck down numerous municipal ordinances that have slowed the development of wind energy, lawyers said. Local governments cannot pass broad rules dictating how far wind turbines must be from other buildings, how tall they can be or how much noise they can produce, the Waukesha-based District 2 Court of Appeals ruled. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22150 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21988 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:56:47 GMT State regulators plan to vote today on a Wisconsin utility's plans to build a massive wind farm in southern Minnesota. Wisconsin Power & Light Co., a subsidiary of Madison-based Alliant Energy, wants permission to start the first phase of the farm on 32,500 acres just north of Albert Lea in Freeborn County. Plans call for scores of turbines that would generate about 200 megawatts of electricity. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21988