Opinions
Wind Turbines: Who Benefits?
One of the most disturbing aspects of the turbine debate is its sole focus on health and safety issues; there are much more compelling reasons for regulating industrial turbines, particularly in the environmental and economic spheres. I find it particularly disturbing that the Wisconsin statutes that mandate renewable energy use have deliberately removed the term "welfare" from local regulatory powers to protect "health, safety and welfare." This censors debate on all issues except health and safety, and the most important reasons to regulate commercial turbines are left off the table. ...This [Trempealeau County] ordinance passed not because the citizen's committee was stacked, or because the county board is incompetent, it passed because the developers were unable to demonstrate that the county had anything to gain by unfettered development. Protecting the health and safety of its citizens was more important than profits.
December 28, 2007
by Ron Reimer
in Winona Daily News
Guest Editorial Re: Trempealeau County's Wind Ordinance
The Winona Daily News is to be commended for airing reasons wind turbine developments should be carefully regulated, and for casting much needed light on this issue. The wind turbines issue is so emotionally charged. The public seems impatient with bearers of bad news about their promised "free" lunch. Citizen watchdogs come off in the media as deluded malcontents, even though they can back up their positions with statistics, case studies, research and personal testimonies of real people who live close to turbines.
Developers of wind energy for profit merely echo turbine manufacturers, who... [continue via Web link]
Web link: http://www.winonadailynews.com
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Wisconsin
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Zoning/Planning
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