www.windaction.org

WIND FARM CHALLENGES: Lightning, aerial repairs, bull attacks
January 12, 2013 by Lyn Jerde in Beaver Dam Daily Citizen

When We Energies began operating Wisconsin's largest wind energy farm in Columbia County a little more than a year ago, Louis Caracci anticipated certain challenges - lightning strikes, high-altitude repairs and complaints from the neighbors about noise from the turbines.

Also filed under [ General]

Sparks fly over wind turbine study
January 11, 2013 in e-Condenser

Their joint report stated that low-frequency noise including sounds below the threshold of audibility constitutes "a serious issue, possibly affecting the future of the industry," adding, "It should be addressed beyond the present practice of showing that wind turbine levels are magnitudes below the threshold of hearing at low frequencies."

Also filed under [ Noise]

Environmental group says Jacque 'misinterpreted' Shirley Wind study
January 6, 2013 by Maria Amante in Greenbay Press-Gazette

Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, said his constituents are suffering from "harmful" symptoms as a result of their proximity to the Shirley Wind Farm. ..."The pro-wind advocates are essentially calling these residents liars, and that the negative health impacts they have experienced are not in fact objective. Unlike the wind proponents, these families do not have an agenda."

Also filed under [ Noise]

Study suggests wind turbines' low-frequency noise could cause health woes
January 4, 2013 by Dee J. Hall in Wisconsin State Journal

Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, called on the PSC to halt wind turbine construction "to keep this nightmare from spreading." Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, said in a statement the agency should "immediately establish new set-back requirements that protect the health and wellness of Wisconsin residents who are forced to live too close to these 500-foot-tall" industrial wind turbines.

Also filed under [ Noise| USA]

Study finds 'dangerous levels' of noise from turbines
January 1, 2013 by Maria Amante in Press-Gazette

A Public Service Commission study has found what one Wisconsin lawmaker classifies as "dangerous levels" of wind turbine-generated low frequency noise or infrasound at the Shirley Wind Project. Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere, has called on the Public Service Commission to issue an emergency rule to immediately suspend the permitting process for wind projects.

Also filed under [ Impact on People| Noise]

Giant windmill tower falls off truck
December 6, 2012 by Jenn Rourke & Ty Milburn in Today's TMJ TV4

Tina Sapp works at Nino's Bakery right on Main St. and said she watched it all happen. She said she immediately feared for her own safety. "As soon as it fell, we were like, 'What if it rolls this way?' That's all we kept thinking," she said.

Also filed under [ Safety| Iowa| Minnesota]

New wind farm pops up along Highway 12; residents have mixed emotions
November 29, 2012 by Steven Verburg in Capital Newspapers

Some like them, while others said they won't pass judgment until they hear how noisy the blades are after they start spinning. But Bruce and Jessica Hellenbrand are already unhappy. They said Wednesday that the towers have ruined the view from the rear of their home and undercut its value.

Also filed under [ General]

State utilities met renewable goals in 2011
November 7, 2012 by Judy Newman in Wisconsin State Journal

Wisconsin's electricity providers have all met their renewable energy goals for 2011, and most have already reached their requirements for 2015, state regulators said.

Also filed under [ General]

A community blown apart? It's neighbors vs. neighbors
October 18, 2012 by Jeff Holmquist in New Richmond News

The Highland Wind Farm plan, which seeks to bring 41 500-foot-tall wind turbines to the rural landscape of northeast St. Croix County, is ripping the social fabric of the community apart. But besides agreeing on that point, the chasm between the backers of the idea and those opposed to it is huge.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Impact on People]

Long-time debate over area renewable energy project adds another chapter
October 12, 2012 by Emily Valerio in WQOW TV

"When you're looking at something that is on a utility scale, on an industrial scale, so closely packed in between homes and farms... there are going to be problems," says Salseg.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind storm brewing in Manitowoc County
October 8, 2012 by Charlie Mathews in Gannett Wisconsin Media

"When the turbine blades face our house, my wife and youngest son get terrible headaches that don't go away unless they go into our basement," said Ben Schauer, who lives in the town of Glenmore near the cluster of turbines ...Schauer said it would be impossible for him and his family to move out. "I would go bankrupt trying to pay two mortgages," he said.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Impact on People]

Rising electricity rates revive deregulation debate
September 22, 2012 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel

Every time We Energies seeks a rate increase, utility customers rail about the fact that rates are going up, and that they don't have a choice in who supplies their power and sends them a bill every month.

Also filed under [ General]

Beautiful Hill Wind Farm draws supporters, opponents
September 9, 2012 by Charlie Mathews in Herald Times

County Executive and State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, I-Manitowoc, voted against the state legislation usurping local control over wind tower siting. "Manitowoc County went through the process ... the agony ... of trying to properly address all the different points of view and came up with a compromise passed with a broad majority of supervisors," Ziegelbauer said Friday.

Also filed under [ General]

Conservation effort focuses on bats and wind turbines
August 31, 2012 by Chuck Quirmbach in Wisconsin Public Radio

The Fish and Wildlife Service has begun to work with Wisconsin and seven other Midwest states on a habitat conservation plan. The service says the aim is to promote the development of clean energy, while helping federally endangered species known to be at risk from wind farms.

Also filed under [ Impact on Wildlife| Impact on Bats]

Change to sign ordinance won't stop federal lawsuit against Morrison
August 31, 2012 by Paul Srubas in Green Bay Press-Gazette

James and Barbara Vanden Boogart and Jon and Lori Morehouse claim town officials have been selectively enforcing its sign ordinance by allowing pro-wind energy signs on some properties while trying to enforce the ordinance against others who oppose development of wind turbines in the town.

Also filed under [ General]

Wisconsin Energy to buy Montfort wind farm for $27 million
August 1, 2012 by Thomas Content in Journal Sentinel

Based on wind farms it has built, purchase of renewable energy credits and the $250 million biomass power plant under construction in Rothschild, We Energies expects to be in compliance with the state's renewable portfolio standard through 2018, Klappa said.

Also filed under [ General]

Sheboygan County Communities for Responsible Energy hopes to stop project
July 31, 2012 by Josh Lintereur in Sheboygan Press

Opponents are now urging town officials to impose bonds and fees and stretch out the approval process as long as possible in hopes the state Legislature revisits rules that govern wind farm development sometime next year. State Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) has encouraged the town to do the same, saying there's a good chance that such efforts could keep the project from moving forward.

Also filed under [ General]

State Sen. Glenn Grothman: 'Good chance' town can stop wind farm in Sheboygan County
July 27, 2012 by Dan Benson in Sheboygan Press

Despite state rules that eliminate virtually all local control from the application process, state Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said Thursday he thinks there's "a fairly good chance" that Town of Sherman officials can stave off development of a wind farm in their community that seems almost universally opposed by residents.

Also filed under [ General]

Opposition strong at proposed wind farm meeting
July 26, 2012 by Dan Benson in Sheboygan Press

"He (the developer) is basically stealing my property," said John Hayes, who lives near the proposed development. "I feel like they're stealing from me." ...State regulations went into effect in March and the Town of Sherman project is one of the first to be considered under the new rules.

Also filed under [ General]

Sen. Lasee: Responds to attack by wind special interest groups
July 13, 2012 by State Senator Frank Lasee in WIS Politics

If the members of WEBA (Wisconsin Energy Business Association) are being honest about their belief that wind turbines do not cause negative health effects, then I suppose I will have three very happy families in my district. The WEBA members can buy the homes these families have been forced to abandon at fair market value before the IWT's were built and move in or resell them for what they can get now.

Also filed under [ Impact on People| Noise]