It's becoming increasingly difficult to determine which way the wind is blowing in the continuing debate over who should oversee wind farm developments in Wisconsin.

Manitowoc County is among the government entities at the center of a battle over regulation of small wind turbine projects.

A Madison environmental group - RENEW Wisconsin - says local wind farm ordinances often are overly restrictive, and deter developers from trying to establish wind farms that will help increase output of "green" energy.

The group points to an ongoing attempt by Hubertus-based Emerging Energies LLP to build a seven-turbine farm in the town of Mishicot.

The Manitowoc County Board of Adjustment recently rejected the plan, which would provide 15 to 20 megawatts of electricity to the town. Legal action by Emerging Energies is a possibility.

RENEW Wisconsin advocates state regulation of wind farms, rather than relying on local ordinances.

Many local leaders, including Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer, argue that local control should be maintained.

He said the county's ordinance, established in 2004, is reasonable. It calls for a minimum distance of 1,000 feet from a turbine to a property line. It also restricts the noise turbines can create to five decibels more than ambient noise.

The battle over state versus local control is nothing new in Wisconsin, and comes into play in a variety of arenas - schools, factories, streets and law enforcement agencies, to name a few.

That's why we're not surprised it comes up again in the debate over wind farm developments. What is a bit surprising is the apparent urgency this time around.

RENEW Executive Director Michael Vickerman recently told a Milwaukee reporter that legislation to give the state oversight could be taken up "in the next few weeks."

We hope that's not the case.

We believe local governments are quite capable of deciding what is best for the people that live within them. If the state wants to have a role in local wind farm decisions, we feel it should be advisory only.

The state thus can maintain some degree of oversight, but the ultimate decision would be made by the people most directly affected - at the local level.

The state can do quite well in helping regulate large wind farm projects, like those in Fond du Lac and Columbia counties. It does not need to extend its long arm to smaller, community-based projects, unless local agencies ask for their advice and input.