Home in a Wind Farm: Living with PSC approved setbacks in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin

Lisa

March 18, 2009 1:21:04 PM

The state of Wisconsin permits 400 foot tall turbines to be sited 1000 feet from the homes of non-participating residents. Towns and counties can adopt stricter standards provided it can be demonstrated the health and safety of the residents might be at risk. As of March, 2009 there is pending legislation which would strip towns, villages and counties of the ability to create more protective ordinances than those approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC). This video is one in a series intended to help Wisconsin legislators understand why the PSC's setbacks and noise limits are not sufficiently adequate to protect residents from noise, shadow-flicker and other problems associated with poorly sited industrial wind turbines.

Duration: 4 minutes 7 seconds

More wind turbine ice and snow build-up

Lisa

February 08, 2009 7:02:45 AM

Video by Gerry Myer, town of Byron, Wisconsin. Residents inside this industrial wind farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin were told ice throw from turbine blades would not be a problem because the turbines automatically shut down when ice and snow build up on the blades.

The turbines are 400 feet tall, with a blade span wider than a 747. They appear to be turning slowly because they are so large, but the tip speed on the blades ranges from 90 to 180 miles an hour. Even a small piece of ice thrown at that speed presents a hazard. Wind developers downplayed the problem during the permitting process for this wind farm, saying ice throw is not anything to worry about. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin took their word for it. These turbines went on line in March of 2008.

Turbine noise in Byron, Wisconsin

Lisa

January 24, 2009 5:18:21 AM

Residents inside this industrial wind farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin were told that noise from the turbines wouldn't be a problem with a setback of 1000 feet. The Meyer family who lives near the town of Byron, in Fond du Lac County Wisconsin tells us differently.

Wind turbine with ice on blades

Lisa

December 29, 2008 9:52:27 PM

Residents inside this industrial wind farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin were told that ice throw from turbine blades isn't a problem. They were told that if ice forms on the blades, the turbine automatically shuts down. After seeing a piece of ice the size of a bed sheet come flying down from this wind turbine, the resident who shot this video decided to get out his video camera.

Industrial wind turbine shadow flicker in Wisconsin 2008

Lisa

December 21, 2008 6:13:15 PM

In Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in spite of what wind developers and wind lobbyists assert, 1000-foot setbacks are not a sufficient distance between homes and wind turbines that are 40 stories tall. There are indeed problems with noise and shadow flicker at this distance. Ask people in the town of Byron in Fond du Lac what they think of the 1000 foot setback.

Duration: 2 minutes 37 seconds

Does an industrial scale wind turbine sound like a refrigerator to you?

Lisa

October 21, 2008 9:23:29 AM

Wind developers in the State of Wisconsin (and elsewhere) want to put industrial scale wind turbines that are 40 stories tall just 1000 feet from people's homes. That's about 350 steps. They tell us at this distance, the turbines make no more noise than a refrigerator. Decide for yourself from this video.

Duration: 1 minutes 59 seconds

(Editor's note: Windaction.org wishes to thank our colleagues at betterplan.squarespace.com for their tireless efforts in helping to raise awareness in Wisconsin and around the U.S. of the detrimental impacts of large-scale wind energy development near where people live.)

Life with industrial wind turbines in Wisconsin Part 6

Lisa

September 23, 2008 5:12:51 PM

A registered nurse in Wisconsin tells what it's like to live near a wind energy facility. She can see over twenty industrial wind turbines from her house. She discusses the impacts of the turbines on her property value and on the community since the facility went on line in March, 2008.

Duration: 6 minutes 26 seconds

The Heartbreak of the Horicon

Lisa

September 13, 2008 10:03:10 PM

In the spring of 2008 along Wisconsin's Horicon Marsh, 86 industrial wind turbines went on line. The turbines are just two miles from the marsh, an area considered to be a wetland of global importance. If not for the efforts of concerned citizens, the wind developers would have erected the massive, 40-story tall turbines much closer. Visit hmsadvocates.org to find out how you can help. Visit betterplan.squarespace.com to learn more about wind turbine siting in Wisconsin.

Duration: 1 minute 59 seconds

Wind Turbine shadow flicker and noise, Byron Wisconsin

Lisa

August 16, 2008 10:31:00 PM

This video demonstrates the impacts of irresponsibly siting of utility-scale wind turbines. The residents of Byron in Wisconsin's Fond du Lac county live with noise, blade flicker, and strobing from the turbines as a regular occurence.

Duration: 9 minutes 9 seconds

Ted's take: Wind Woes

Lisa

May 14, 2008 11:50:37 AM

This editorial piece, shown on MYFox Milwaukee in Wisconsin, discusses the issues facing homeowners living near industrial-scale wind turbines. Ted Perry produced this segment following his news report on the same topic.

Duration: 1 minute 22 seconds

Fox news report from Wisconsin

Lisa

May 11, 2008 7:22:50 PM

This news report from Fox News in Wisconsin highlights the impacts of industrial wind facilities on the land, on individuals living near the turbines (noise, flicker, television reception), and on community harmony. Includes interesting scenes of the Blue Sky, Green Field wind project in Wisconsin as well as shadows from the blades.

 Duration: 6 minutes 46 seconds

Union Township, WI discussion on wind ordinance Part 3 of 3

Lisa

February 03, 2008 9:00:23 AM

This video set (3 parts) shows Judge Tom Alisankus explaining to the Union Planning Commission the research that went into preparing the draft ordinance for governing placement of wind turbines within the township. Judge Alisankus reveals how little science was used by the State of Wisconsin when it developed its model ordinance. Viewers are encouraged to watch all three parts of this video.

Part 1 of 3: 3.15 minutes

Part 2 of 3: 3.36 minutes

Part 3 of 3: 3.47 minutes

 

Source: http://evansvilleobserver.blogspot.com/2008/02/union-planning-commission-1-31-2008.html

Union Township, WI discussion on wind ordinance Part 2 of 3

Lisa

February 03, 2008 8:58:52 AM

This video set (3 parts) shows Judge Tom Alisankus explaining to the Union Planning Commission the research that went into preparing the draft ordinance for governing placement of wind turbines within the township. Judge Alisankus reveals how little science was used by the State of Wisconsin when it developed its model ordinance. Viewers are encouraged to watch all three parts of this video.

Part 1 of 3: 3.15 minutes

Part 2 of 3: 3.36 minutes

Part 3 of 3: 3.47 minutes

 

Source: http://evansvilleobserver.blogspot.com/2008/02/union-planning-commission-1-31-2008.html

Union Township, WI discussion on wind ordinance Part 1 of 3

Lisa

February 03, 2008 8:54:15 AM

This video set (3 parts) shows Judge Tom Alisankus explaining to the Union Planning Commission the research that went into preparing the draft ordinance for governing placement of wind turbines within the township. Judge Alisankus reveals how little science was used by the State of Wisconsin when it developed its model ordinance. Viewers are encouraged to watch all three parts of this video.

Part 1 of 3: 3.15 minutes

Part 2 of 3: 3.36 minutes

Part 3 of 3: 3.47 minutes

 

Source: http://evansvilleobserver.blogspot.com/2008/02/union-planning-commission-1-31-2008.html