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City loses power over turbines; State law limits municipalities' ability to control height
May 22, 2012 by Peter Bukowski in Brookfield Now

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.

Bill would allow communities to establish wind turbine setbacks
January 24, 2012 in Wisconsin State Journal

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Bill allows communities more control over wind turbine setbacks
January 6, 2012 by Trent Artus in WQOW TV 8

"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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Wind turbines to Mount Pleasant Board, no Plan Commission OK
November 28, 2011 by Heather Asiyanbi in Mount Pleasant Patch

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.

Caledonia denies couple's wind turbine proposal
June 29, 2011 by Kimber Solana in The Journal Times

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.

Rules may change for wind farm sites
March 27, 2011 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Subject: Milwaukee mulls wind turbine location
January 31, 2011 by Marie Rohde in The Daily Reporter

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.

Reform bill poses threat to wind farms
January 15, 2011 by Clay Barbour in Wisconsin State Journal

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.

Can uniform setbacks prevent local wind farm fights?
January 6, 2011 by Kari Lydersen in Midwest Energy News

Also filed under [ Impact on People| Iowa| Illinois| Michigan| Minnesota]

Strong gust for wind farms?
January 4, 2011 by Craig D. Reber in Telegraph Herald

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.

Kewaunee County wind turbine ordinance needed
July 14, 2010 by Kurt Rentmeester in Kewaunee County News

"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.

Critics sound off on wind farm plan
November 6, 2009 by Lyn Jerde in Wisconsin State Journal

[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.

Towns plan for new wind siting law
October 3, 2009 by Gina Duwe in Janesville Gazette

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.

Questions emerge over how, where to place wind farms
September 15, 2009 by Carl Agnelly in WKOW TV

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Wisconsin wind farm siting legislation accounts for neighbors
August 5, 2009 by Shawn Johnson in Wisconsin Public Radio

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Calumet County sets wind turbine moratorium after Supreme Court decision
July 22, 2009 by Jim Collar in Appleton Post-Crescent

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.

Ruling reopens wind energy debate in Calumet County; Court voids Calumet's wind turbine policy
July 19, 2009 by Jim Collar in Appleton Post-Crescent

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Wisconsin court limits local wind turbine regulations
July 15, 2009 by Associated Press in Greenbay Press Gazette

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Wis. court tosses local wind turbine regulations
July 14, 2009 by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press in Fond du Lac Reporter

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Wisconsin regulators to consider plans for wind farm
July 9, 2009 in Winona Daily News

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.

Also filed under [ Minnesota]

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