by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a post by Andrew Alt on SmelserTownship.com:
A former supervisor of mine keeps a sign posted in his office to this day. It reads, “In God We Trust; all others bring data.” As a senior engineer at one of our nation’s premiere medical device manufacturers, I have learned the value of these words. Millions of people around the world count on our products to work, leaving no room for errors in judgment when it comes to product quality and reliability. That is why we employ only the best and brightest people who utilize cutting-edge tools and techniques to make informed, data-driven decisions in everything we do.
Using data to make decisions has become second nature to me thanks in no small part to the fine education I received from Saint Rose School, Cuba City High School, and UW-Platteville. That’s why I get frustrated when I see or hear of people from my hometown area making poor decisions based on bad information rather than concrete evidence. Case in point: people against wind energy.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Craig Reber in the Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa):
TOWN of SMELSER, Wis. — Voters returned two of three incumbents in the contentious Smelser Township Board of Supervisors race — an election that essentially put a controversial wind farm proposal on the ballot.
Incumbent Town Chairman Gabe Loeffelholz retained his seat, turning back a bid by challenger Greg Brandt, 204-193.
Incumbent supervisor Arnold Rawson kept his post with 295 votes. He was joined on the board by challenger Robert Droessler, who tallied 199 votes.
Incumbent James Kraus had 172 votes, and Mike Reese received 67, neither garnering enough votes to win the supervisor seats.
“I survived one,” said Loeffelholz, who previously served in the state legislature representing the 49th Assembly District. “I’m used to winning and I’m used to losing. That’s all a part of life — like work, religion and politics.”
Wind Capital Group, headquartered in St. Louis, wants to build about 61 towers in portions of three townships: Smelser, Paris and Hazel Green. The proposed White Oak Wind Farm would have a total capacity of 100 megawatts.
by jboullion | Apr 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
Prairie Solar Power & Light, headed by Rich Bannen (in the cowboy hat, third from right), installed the solar system for Reedsburg Utility.
From a news release issued by Reedsburg Utility:
Electric customers in Reedsburg are benefitting from a new application of solar power in the city. The community-owned utility recently installed an array of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at the Reedsburg Area High School.
Reedsburg Utility installed a dual axis tracker with a peak output of 3.584, providing approximately 6,000 kilowatt-hours of emissions-free electricity each year.
“It is our objective to be a model for the use of renewable energy,” said Jim Schieble, Energy Services Representative. “By supporting community-wide renewable projects, Reedsburg Utility is illustrating the practical use of renewable energy and enticing customers to do the same.”
Solar PV systems collect energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity, providing renewable, emissions-free energy. These highly visible projects demonstrate the technology, while educating the community on their benefits, operation and performance. The solar unit will provide education and student involvement for many years to come at RAHS, said Dave Mikonowicz, General Manager of Reedsburg Utility.
Reedsburg Utility pursued various grant opportunities, including funding from its power supplier WPPI Energy, to help fund the purchase and installation of the solar PV systems. The project is contracted through Prairie Solar Power & Light of Priarie Du Chien and became operational on March 30, 2009.
by jboullion | Apr 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a commentary by Mark Hirsch on Smelsertownship.com:
With an eroding tax base and an expected reduction in the state’s shared revenue (county and municipal aid payments) local municipalities and townships will need to adjust their spending or find other sources of revenue to support their operating budgets in 2010 and 2011.
In this dire economic downturn, the good luck fairy has offered to sprinkle the dust of fortune on Grant County in the form of a commercial project that fits very well in an agricultural economy. On top of the nice fit, we have the opportunity to augment our budget shortfall with some newfound and state-mandated revenue.
That newfound revenue would come in the form of the $80,000 a year Smelser Township would receive in lieu of taxes through state requirements enacted in 2003 Act 31. This act guarantees income in lieu of taxes to the host municipalities. In simplest terms, the additional $80,000 would be equal to 23% of the township’s 2008 operating revenue of $350,000.
For Smelser Township though, it seems some local citizens would rather pay higher taxes than embrace the financial windfall the township would receive from the proposed White Oak Wind Project.
by jboullion | Apr 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Craig Reber in the Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa):
SMELSER, Wis. — The fate of a proposed southwest Wisconsin wind farm could be decided Tuesday at the polls, where supporters of the controversial plan face off with opponents.
Wind Capital Group, headquartered in St. Louis, wants to build about 61 towers — 400feet high from the base to 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.
Opponents of the White Oak Wind Farm proposal cite safety and health issues with the siting of the wind turbines. They seek a one-half mile setback minimum requirement (as opposed to the proposed 1,000 feet) to minimize what they call the “noise, safety and health risks” to families and their houses.
They say the shipment of the wind turbine components — tower sections, blades and the hub — would require large trucks that would “likely” damage the area’s roadways. They question what happens to the wind turbines after they have served their “useful” lives. They say the “risk” is that the turbines will never get torn down after they are abandoned.
Foes want an ordinance enacted by the Smelser Town Board of Supervisors that they say would “protect” the township’s residents. There are five people on the Tuesday ballot challenging three incumbent supervisors, the township clerk and treasurer. The incumbent chairman and supervisors have been in support of the wind farm.
A town board could adopt a moratorium on a wind farm development by passing an ordinance. However, such an ordinance still could be subject to a legal challenge since no state statute specifically gives townships such authority. Several state Assembly members plan to reintroduce legislation that will provide the state Public Service Commission the authority to establish state standards for wind turbine setbacks and acceptable noise levels.
Also on the state level, Gov. Jim Doyle has a goal of generating 25 percent of the state’s electricity and 25 percent of transportation fuel from renewable fuels (including wind power) by 2025.
RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide nonprofit organization, advocates for public policies and private initiatives to support renewable energy. It supports the project. RENEW Wisconsin Executive Director Michael Vickerman said 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.
Grant County could collect $400,000 annually for the next 25 years, with an option of 10 additional years. As mandated by state law, the county would distribute 40 percent of the revenue to the townships that host the turbines. Smelser Township would have half of the turbines and receive $80,000. Paris and Hazel Green townships, hosting a quarter of the turbines each, $40,000.
Wind farm proponents offer their views on Smelsertownship.com.
