by jboullion | May 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal:
Congratulations to the Columbia County Board for recognizing last week that wind turbines complement farmland preservation.
The board agreed Wednesday that farmers in the towns of Randolph and Scott can lease small amounts of land to We Energies for wind turbines without violating their state agreements to keep their land in agricultural production.
The board’s decision is wise because the turbines will give each farmer thousands of dollars in extra income to keep their farm operations going. And the amount of land taken out of production for turbine foundations and access roads will be miniscule compared to the total size of cropland that will remain.
We Energies also has agreed to buy two homes from neighbors who were concerned about living within a quarter mile of some of the turbines.
That means this exciting wind project in northeast Columbia County can now move forward with 90 turbines scattered across some 17,000 acres of productive farmland.
We Energies started developing the site, called Glacier Hills Energy Park, last week. It’s located about 50 miles northeast of Madison.
The energy company hopes to fire up the wind park by the end of next year or early 2012. It will produce enough clean energy to power 45,000 homes.
Wisconsin’s wind industry is just taking off, and more clean energy is needed to reduce Wisconsin’s reliance on dirty coal and gas that’s imported from other states and foreign countries.
by jboullion | May 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal:
Congratulations to the Columbia County Board for recognizing last week that wind turbines complement farmland preservation.
The board agreed Wednesday that farmers in the towns of Randolph and Scott can lease small amounts of land to We Energies for wind turbines without violating their state agreements to keep their land in agricultural production.
The board’s decision is wise because the turbines will give each farmer thousands of dollars in extra income to keep their farm operations going. And the amount of land taken out of production for turbine foundations and access roads will be miniscule compared to the total size of cropland that will remain.
We Energies also has agreed to buy two homes from neighbors who were concerned about living within a quarter mile of some of the turbines.
That means this exciting wind project in northeast Columbia County can now move forward with 90 turbines scattered across some 17,000 acres of productive farmland.
We Energies started developing the site, called Glacier Hills Energy Park, last week. It’s located about 50 miles northeast of Madison.
The energy company hopes to fire up the wind park by the end of next year or early 2012. It will produce enough clean energy to power 45,000 homes.
Wisconsin’s wind industry is just taking off, and more clean energy is needed to reduce Wisconsin’s reliance on dirty coal and gas that’s imported from other states and foreign countries.
by jboullion | May 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal:
Congratulations to the Columbia County Board for recognizing last week that wind turbines complement farmland preservation.
The board agreed Wednesday that farmers in the towns of Randolph and Scott can lease small amounts of land to We Energies for wind turbines without violating their state agreements to keep their land in agricultural production.
The board’s decision is wise because the turbines will give each farmer thousands of dollars in extra income to keep their farm operations going. And the amount of land taken out of production for turbine foundations and access roads will be miniscule compared to the total size of cropland that will remain.
We Energies also has agreed to buy two homes from neighbors who were concerned about living within a quarter mile of some of the turbines.
That means this exciting wind project in northeast Columbia County can now move forward with 90 turbines scattered across some 17,000 acres of productive farmland.
We Energies started developing the site, called Glacier Hills Energy Park, last week. It’s located about 50 miles northeast of Madison.
The energy company hopes to fire up the wind park by the end of next year or early 2012. It will produce enough clean energy to power 45,000 homes.
Wisconsin’s wind industry is just taking off, and more clean energy is needed to reduce Wisconsin’s reliance on dirty coal and gas that’s imported from other states and foreign countries.
by jboullion | May 26, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a presentation to the Public Service Commission Wind Siting Council by Jevon D. McFadden, MD, MPH:
General Conclusions
Evidence does not support the conclusion that wind turbines cause or are associated with adverse health outcomes
Gaps remain in our knowledge of the impact that wind energy may have on human health
Potential positive and potential negative impacts
Passionate analyses, whether by proponents or opponents of wind energy development, may be subject to significant bias, which compromises credibility
Recommendations
Encourage concerned individuals to report symptoms or illness to a healthcare provider
Encourage health officials to continue to assess new evidence as it becomes available
Recommend involving affected individuals in siting process
Shadow Flicker
Wind turbine rotor frequencies
+Average 0.6–1.0 Hz
+Max 3 Hz (at 60 rpm)
+National Research Council: “Harmless to humans”
Photosensitivity epilepsy
+1/4,000 individuals
+Sunlight, TV are common precipitants
Flickeringlight most likely to trigger seizures
+5–30 Hz
Noise & Health —Conclusions
Chronic exposure to high levels of sound
+Hearing loss
+Altered physiological processes
Long-term health effects of chronic exposure to low level sound not well characterized
Noise sensitivity is important determinate of responses to noise
Response to moderate levels of sound affected by cognitive appraisal of sound source
Dr. McFadden lists the following affiliations at the beginning of his presentation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention —Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer
United States Public Health Service —Lieutenant Commander
Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health
University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Population Health Sciences —Adjunct Assistant Professor
by jboullion | May 26, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release posted on Sys-Con Media:
LADYSMITH, WI — (Marketwire) — 05/26/10 — Indeck Ladysmith, LLC, the owner and operator of the Indeck Ladysmith BioFuel Center in Ladysmith, Wisconsin is moving forward in a partnership with Fuels for Schools and Communities, a program supported by the state of Wisconsin that encourages the use of wood biomass as an energy source for the heating of public buildings.
Representatives from Indeck Ladysmith have met with 11 local schools to discuss the possibility of replacing natural gas boilers used for heating with wood pellet boilers. Able to heat just as efficiently as conventional boilers, new wood pellet boilers would support the local biomass industry of Wisconsin while ultimately providing schools with some cost-savings.
“Focus on Energy, a government funded program here in Wisconsin, has been able to provide us with pre-feasibility studies at many of these local school districts,” said Mike Curci, Indeck Ladysmith BioFuel Center superintendant. “They are working with us to determine if replacing older natural gas boilers with updated wood pellet boilers is possible at a reduced upfront cost.”
by jboullion | May 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Stevens Point Journal:
In his last batch of funding requests before his retirement, U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, is seeking almost $2 million in earmarks for Portage County.
Four of the 85 projects Obey submitted for consideration in the 2011 federal budget are specific to the county, with several focused on central Wisconsin and others on statewide projects.
Despite being a retiring congressman, the likelihood Obey’s projects will get funding remains relatively high, given his seniority in the House of Representatives and position as Appropriations Committee chairman, said Ed Miller, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
“It’s more difficult when you’re going out of office, but given that he’s the chairman of the committee, I think he’s going to handle it well,” Miller said.
Among the projects, which the Appropriations Committee and full House and Senate still must approve, are funds to help the UWSP Institute for Sustainable Technology, Project Learn Program, redevelopment in the city of Stevens Point and the continued reconstruction of Highway 10.
Among other projects in central Wisconsin is an expanded renewable energy center at Mid-State Technical College.
Mid-State’s board of directors recently approved a $2 million renewable energy center at its Wisconsin Rapids campus, but that could more than double if Congress approves another $4.5 million Obey requested for the project.
“It will allow us to basically complete the whole project,” said Al Javoroski, dean of Mid-State’s technical and industrial division, who still expressed some hesitation after Congress rejected a $20 million request in 2009.
“The big picture is we’re going to do what we need to (in order) to support our renewable energy initiative.”
