MANITOWOC — Members of the Manitowoc County Board of Adjustment postponed Monday a decision on whether Emerging Energies LLP can build seven large-scale industrial wind turbines around the village of Mishicot.

The five-member board will revisit the issue at its next meeting on Monday, July 17.

Wind farm developers and local wind farm critics have been embroiled in debate for more than a year over issues like wind turbine aesthetics, setbacks, noise and shadow flicker.

At Monday's meeting, board members said they didn't yet have all of their questions answered following a public hearing on the wind development application in May.

The July meeting will not involve a full public hearing, said Pete Tarnowsky, a county code administrator who moderated Monday's meeting.

But some members of Wisconsin Citizens Opposing Windturbine Sites (WINDCOWS) said they believed the board is unwilling to make a decision on Emerging Energies contentious development plans.

"They looked very uncomfortable in making a decision," said David Korinek, WINDCOWS member. "I don't know if they reviewed the information or not. I hope if they ask questions of Emerging Energies, they will give people the chance to counter with their own information."

Scott Fictum, of Mishicot, said wind turbine noise and shadow flicker might impact his home if Emerging Energies' application goes through.

Fictum was hoping for a decision on the wind turbine development, but he added it might be better that the board didn't make a decision. That way, they will have more time to study the issues, he said.

Representatives for Emerging Energies declined comment on Monday's meeting.

Meanwhile, a plan by Navitas Energy of Minneapolis to build a 49-turbine wind farm in and around the town of Two Creeks is on hold as the District II Court of Appeals in Waukesha considers a challenge to the proposal by members of WINDCOWS.

The case has been in litigation for 18 months, said Christopher Moore, managing director of Navitas Energy.