by jboullion | Feb 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a guest column by Mark Hirsch of Platteville in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald:
In 2009, after years of acrimonious debate regarding the impact of wind-energy facilities on local communities, the Wisconsin Legislature directed the Public Service Commission to review public concerns, scientifically analyze the issues and develop guidelines for uniform wind-siting regulations throughout the state.
This lengthy process culminated in the creation of PSC-128, a set of rules drafted to create a level playing field for developing our wind resources while still protecting the health and safety of our citizens and neighbors.
The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules held a public hearing Feb. 9 about PSC-128. I attended with hopes of sharing my voice on this controversial issue, but due to the large turnout, I did not get a chance to speak. Like many Wisconsin residents, I am strongly opposed to Gov. Walker’s efforts to stop the development of wind energy in Wisconsin.
Gov. Walker attempted to subvert this set of rules in January by introducing language in his reform bill to radically alter the siting parameters set by PSC-128. The resulting legislation, SB-9, failed Advertisement
to receive any support during the governor’s special session. As a result, the governor is trying to subvert these rules again by putting it before the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. This is not standard operating procedure.
The governor claims that his modification will protect property owners’ rights. Under the guise of protecting property owners’ rights, what he is really doing is bowing to a special-interest group (the Wisconsin Realtors Association).
An important fact that Gov. Walker is overlooking when he says his rules will protect property owners’ rights is that he seems only interested in protecting the rights for those who are neighbors to a wind farm. He needs to argue for the rights of all landowners.
What about the rights of the landowners who support these developments and want the wind farm on their property? These people have paid taxes, farmed their land and, in many cases, sold off small housing parcels to their neighbors. Now the governor wants to empower the neighbors and a minority of landowners with the authority to tell the large property owners what they can do with their land?
by jboullion | Feb 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a letter to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules from Fond du Lac County in support of PSC proposed wind siting rules, not the rules proposed by Gov. Scot Walker:
Utility scale wind farms in Wisconsin have meant a lot to local
businesses. Farmers that want to continue working their farmland have additional income to support their operations. Land rental payments for turbine sites bring farmers $5,000 each year for each turbine site. Farmers invest these dollars, $829,900 in 2010, into growing crops or their dairy herds. One of our local contractors, Michels Corporation of Brownsville, Wisconsin, has been the prime contractor in several utility scale wind farms. Michels was the prime contractor and paid living wages to just over 200 employees in the Fond du Lac/Dodge County area during the construction of the Forward Energy Center and the Blue Sky/Green Filed wind farm. Michels was also part of the construction team for both Butler Ridge and Glacial Ridge projects elsewhere in Wisconsin. Michels has been in discussions with 4 other wind developers each with 100 MV projects around Wisconsin.
by jboullion | Feb 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a letter to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules from Fond du Lac County in support of PSC proposed wind siting rules, not the rules proposed by Gov. Scot Walker:
Utility scale wind farms in Wisconsin have meant a lot to local businesses. Farmers that want to continue working their farmland have additional income to support their operations. Land rental payments for turbine sites bring farmers $5,000 each year for each turbine site. Farmers invest these dollars, $829,900 in 2010, into growing crops or their dairy herds. One of our local contractors, Michels Corporation of Brownsville, Wisconsin, has been the prime contractor in several utility scale wind farms. Michels was the prime contractor and paid living wages to just over 200 employees in the Fond du Lac/Dodge County area during the construction of the Forward Energy Center and the Blue Sky/Green Filed wind farm. Michels was also part of the construction team for both Butler Ridge and Glacial Ridge projects elsewhere in Wisconsin. Michels has been in discussions with 4 other wind developers each with 100 MV projects around Wisconsin.
by jboullion | Feb 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Lisa Gibson in Biomass magazine:
We Energies has received draft air permits for both the construction and operation of its 50-megawatt cogeneration plant to be co-located at a Domtar Paper mill in Rothschild, Wis.
Following the issuance of the draft permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is a 30-day public comment period and hearing, according Brian Manthey, We Energies media relations representative. The public hearing is scheduled for March 1, after which time, the WDNR will make the final decision on the permits. “It should be noted that all of our local permits and variances have passed governmental bodies unanimously,” Manthey said. “We have been pleased by the strong support in the community and we would expect that to continue at the hearing.”
by jboullion | Feb 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Thomas Content in the Milwaukeee Journal Sentinel:
Stricter EPA pollution rules leading to changes
We Energies managers expect to decide this year how the utility will clean up the Menomonee Valley power plant to comply with new environmental rules.
The Milwaukee power company is studying whether to add pollution controls at the downtown plant or to convert the plant to burn natural gas.
A coalition of health and environmental groups plans a petition drive calling on the company to make changes more rapidly.
The Valley plant has come under fire because it is the only large utility plant the company operates in Wisconsin that hasn’t been outfitted with state-of-the-art pollution scrubbers or shut down.
As part of a federal court settlement resolving alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, the state’s largest utility has added pollution controls to power plants in Oak Creek and Pleasant Prairie, and converted its oldest coal plant in Port Washington to burn natural gas.
The Cleaner Valley Coalition has expanded its coalition with the addition of the Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope and the Wisconsin Interfaith Power & Light coalition, among others. Other members include the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin.
“We are demanding We Energies to clean up its mess and the Environmental Protection Agency to hold We Energies accountable to meet modern and protective health standards,” said Virginia Zerpa, leader of the Cleaner Valley Coalition.
by jboullion | Feb 15, 2011 | Uncategorized
RENEW Executive Director Michael Vickerman will speak at Small Wind in Your Community a workshop for elected officials/decision-makers (plan commissioners, board/council members, etc.) as well as the planning/zoning community in Oshkosh, March 25.
If you are an elected official/decision-maker (plan commissioner, board/council member, etc.) or opart of the planning/zoning community, get more information by droppping an email to vjohnson@eastcentralrpc.org.
