CUBA CITY, Wis. -- In 1962, Bob Dylan penned perhaps the most pensive folk anthem of his generation, proclaiming "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind."
Supporters of a proposed wind farm west of Cuba City hope that's the case; opponents demand the answer should be somewhere else. All agree, however, the wind farm could be a polarizing issue in the community.
Wind Capital Group, headquartered in St. Louis, wants to build about 60 towers -- 400-feet high from the base to the tip of blade -- in portions of three townships: Smelser, Paris and Hazel Green.
The proposed White Oak Wind Farm would have a total capacity of 100 megawatts. Wind Capital Group is working on development of future projects totaling more than 1,400 megawatts in 10 states.
Project spokesman Tony Wyche said Wind Capital selected the area based on the wind resource, topography, landowner interest and the availability of electrical transmission access. The company has been studying the wind resource for more than a year.
"Overall,
Wind power Q & A Question: |
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Are wind turbines loud?
Plans for wind farm move forwardTOWN of SEYMOUR, Wis. -- For Lafayette County, wind is in -- or at least it very well could be by 2010. Some five years after first being proposed, the Darlington Wind Farm in Seymour Township could see some progress. The plan, developed by the Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy, calls for 99 megawatts and 47 turbines. "We are working closely with the local community and a number of local landowners," said Brian Lammers, a Horizon spokesman based in the company's Minneapolis development office. "In the four of five years we've worked on the site, there's been uniform acceptance of the project. Basically we've begun the mid-to-late stage development to advance for a projected 2009 or 2010 construction start." He said the site boasts a good wind resource, and adequate transmission lines are available to transmit power into the grid. In 2006, President Bush articulated a national imperative for greater energy efficiency and a more diversified energy portfolio. Citing wind energy as part of the solution, he noted that areas of the nation with good wind resources could satisfy up to 20 percent of America's total electricity demand. In 2007, wind was one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity in the nation, second only to natural gas for the third consecutive year. According to an American Wind Energy Association report released in early May, the U.S. wind energy industry continued new installations at a breakneck pace in the first quarter of 2008, putting 1,400 megawatts, or approximately $3 billion worth of new generating capacity in place -- enough to serve the equivalent of 400,000 homes. The report also noted investment in 17 new manufacturing facilities over the past year. The wind energy industry, along with wind energy advocates, received good news from Washington, D.C., on Oct. 3, when Congress extended the renewable-energy production tax credit, what the industry sees as a vital component of financing all utility-scale wind-energy projects, through December 31, 2009. --Craig D. Reber
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* Location: Next to the Niagara Escarpment in the Fond du Lac area, Grant County is one of the best wind-resource locations in the state. The high rolling hills west of Cuba City are well situated in prevailing Northwest winds for energy development.
* Community support: "Early on in the site selection process, we received very positive support from local officials and the economic development organizations in Cuba City, Grant County, the townships, and from farm owners in the project area," Wyche said.
* Access to transmission: The location had available electrical transmission access on two separate lines.
Wyche said the wind farm will create new jobs in Grant County, contribute $400,000 in new tax revenue to both the county and townships, and provide participating landowners with a new source of farm income from the leases on the wind turbines.
Opinions clashed at a contentious Smelser town meeting in late September attended by more than 150 people. Township residents voted overwhelmingly, 78-21, in favor on a nine-month moratorium on the project.
But the moratorium most likely isn't binding because of language in a Wisconsin statute on wind farm siting. "No county, city, town or village may place any restriction, either directly or in effect, on the installation or use of ... a wind energy system unless the restriction satisfies one of the following conditions:
* Serves to preserve or protect the public health or safety
* Does not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency; and
* Allows for an alternative system of comparable cost and efficiency.
Some project opponents cite health and safety concerns, excessive noise due to the turning of the turbines' blades, lack of suitable wind in the area, and the loss of valuable farm land. They also argue that the mix of homes and farms in the area is not conducive to the project, saying that it should be built in less-populated areas.
The key point of contention is whether the turbines should be set back farther than the state-mandated 1,000 feet to 1,800 feet from any farm buildings, homestead or residential property. Opponents were reluctant to talk on the record for this article for fear of possible retribution from project proponents.
Foes weren't reluctant to speak at the Smelser town meeting. Stephanie Schroeder, of the Tri-County Press, covered the meeting and quoted numerous opponents for a published report.
Rob Droessler said he is not against wind energy, but is concerned with having a wind turbine within 1,000 feet of his home.
"The flicker effect is an issue," he said, referring to the reflection of sunlight that the turbines sometimes produce.
Susan Clare, a Smelser Township resident and nurse, said she had done her research and is concerned about the health effects.
"It's called Wind Turbine Syndrome, and symptoms include dizziness, nausea and headaches," she said. "I urge you to go home and do your own research. I hope that there at least be a moratorium on this before our elected officials make a decision."
Greg Bellman, also of Smelser Township, said he is all for "green" energy, noting there were "good points" for the project and points against it.
"In this area, we are just too close," he said. "Other wind farms are in less-populated areas."
White Oak Wind Farm foes receive no sympathy from Don Leix, who operates a 400-cow dairy farm in the Montfort area. Twenty wind turbines -- The Montfort Wind Farm -- stand on farmland along U.S. 18, in Iowa County's Eden Township. Owned by Florida Power & Light, of Juno Beach, Fla., they've been operational since 2001. The power is purchased by WE Energy and Alliant Energy. Three of the turbines stand on Leix's property.
"These people have their heads in the sand," Leix said. "They'll believe anything negative. I wish they'd build it in Montfort. I'd sell the cows and I could go golfing every day. It's an easy way to make money other than working for it. It doesn't make me rich, but I'm making money."
As the power rate increases, so does Leix's payments -- about 3 percent.
Leix has no problem at all with the turbines.
"We got 400 cows running around under them," he said. "I don't even notice them any more. I work around them. I drive around roads. The equipment doesn't make that much noise. You hear the wind more blowing through the trees. The 'flick' they constantly mention, that might be for five or 10 minutes. And that's only if the sun is going down.
"This is all about 'not-in-my-backyard,' or citizens against virtually everything. What would happen to people if they one day woke up and had no electricity? You don't want coal, because that pollutes. Wind farms make noise, and that's going to cause me to go paranoid. We're in dire need of green power."
Added Mary Clifton, the wife of La Verne who has three turbines on his land, "We are very happy with them. We don't have a problem with them. We'd put up more if we could."
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle's goal is generating 25 percent of the state's electricity and 25 percent of transportation fuel from renewable fuels by 2025.
RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide non-profit organization, advocates for public policies and private initiatives to support renewable energy. It supports the project.
RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director Michael Vickerman discounts a number of the objections.
"There have been NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) objectors to wind power projects the last nine years," he said. "They say the same things. There's never any evidence to back up what they're saying. That's not to say there are some individuals out there who have a special sensitivity, but they are very, very few and far between.
"The fact of the matter is the turbine sound is barely audible within 1,000 feet."
Vickerman notes wind farms are an important source of revenue to local governments, in terms of payments and taxes -- not to mention the supplemental income to the host landowners.
"This is a fairly low-cost, highly secure and financially stable source of energy," Vickerman said. "Once a project is completed, there is very little cost associated with maintaining wind power."
He points to America's constant battle with rising energy prices.
"Fuel costs will continue to go up in the future, but not with wind because it's free," he said. You're not taking fossil fuel to deliver winds to turbine blades -- not coal, natural gas, oil. We're also secure in the sense that the energy is not imported from another state or country. There is the complete absence of air or water emissions, and it doesn't contribute to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."
Gabe Loeffelholz, Smelser Town chairman and former state assembly member, thinks the project makes sense.
"If we won't do it, somebody else will," he said. "I believe we have to work on alternative-energy sources. Nothing has come up in a court proving wind towers are a health hazard ... Wind Capital has done its homework, they're not fooling around."
Wyche said the company wants to work with both proponents and opponents.
"Wind Capital Group is well along in the site planning for the wind farm and will be working with local governments and landowners over the coming months to answer questions and discuss locations for the wind turbines and access roads," he said. "Wind Capital Group also is actively securing easements from participating farm owners for the wind farm and expects to have most of the easements completed this fall."
