The status of the Blue Sky Green Field Wind Farm has generated a lot of hot air from locals, but operator We Energies said the 88 turbines haven't started generating power.

Blue Sky Green Field remains under construction as We Energies tests the turbines, said company spokesman Barry McNulty.

In recent weeks, locals have called and e-mailed The Reporter with rumors about the project, including that it had been shut down due to stray voltage. Another rumor presented to The Reporter stated the turbines were not constructed properly and the blades could come loose.

McNulty denied those rumors and said the project is progressing according to schedule.

"It just goes to show that it doesn't matter the type of fuel - nuclear, solar, wind - there will always be those who subject themselves to rumor," he said.

The wind farm is located about 15 miles northeast of the city of Fond du Lac in the towns of Marshfield and Calumet.

A contractor has erected all the turbines and now We Energies is conducting comprehensive tests on each unit. Some have been spinning during test runs, while others remain dormant. McNulty said 60 of the 88 turbines are able to rotate, while work on the others remains in progress.

"The turbines have been spinning at times, but have been taken offline at times," McNulty said.

McNulty said commercial operations at Blue Sky Green Field would begin about the end of May.

We Energies will also begin restoration efforts in the coming months. The company has sent out letters to all landowners informing them of the upcoming restoration work, said We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey. The work would likely include erasing traces of construction and replacing topsoil.

"We try to restore the land to the way it was before work began," he said.

Manthey also said We Energies has come to a resolution with landowner Bill Winkler regarding a turbine that was placed 36-feet too close to his home. Ordinances require wind turbines be placed at least 1,000 feet from homes. However, a We Energies turbine located on a neighbor's property near Winkler's town of Marshfield home came up short.

Manthey said an agreement was made that will allow the turbine to stay in its current location. He said he could not discuss the details of the agreement because of a confidentiality agreement with the other parties involved.

After the company discovered it was too close, the locations of the other turbines were re-checked. There were no other misplaced turbines, he said.

Once online, the Blue Sky Green Field will generate 145 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 36,000 homes, according to company officials.