by jboullion | Jun 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
A letter to the editor by James E. Becher, Norwalk, in the La Crosse Tribune on June 2, 2009:
The situation here at Ridgeville, town of Wilton, Monroe County Wis., is a prime example why the state needs to overrule these unrealistic ordinances with normal setbacks (500 feet property line dwelling to 1,000 feet, no greater) allowing a wind farm here in Monroe County.
(Aren’t we fortunate the NIMBYs weren’t here when the power lines came through? With greater setbacks, we may not have electricity.)
Recent polls in a local newspaper resulted in about 85 percent in Monroe County favoring wind power. That makes only 15 percent against it.
In 2005, about 45 landowners signed easements with Invenergy LLC, a reputable wind company, looking forward to construction in 2006. A committee drew up an ordinance approved by the state, county, towns, landowners and wind company — no problems.
Then the anti-wind group (NIMBYs) formed, holding many “mis-informational” meetings, hiring six lawyers, plus many speakers with negative, fictional stories — sending DVDs, pictures, propaganda, etc. to every household in Monroe County and beyond, pestering people until their resistance wore them down, persuading them to join the group.
Some were elected to our town boards to veto the approved ordinance, halting construction, then drawing up their own restrictive ordinance, preventing all wind farms from ever coming in here, ruining our wind farm business, income and taking away our landowner rights.
Prime examples why proper-normal setbacks are so important: calculating normal setbacks means 1 turbine per 40-acre plot; calculating greater setback requires four 40-acre plots, leaving very few landowners eligible.
We commend Sen. Jeff Plale and Rep. Jim Soletski and the other legislators co-sponsoring the two bills to bring statewide wind siting to Wisconsin, helping the energy crisis.
by jboullion | Jun 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the e-newsletter of Focus on Energy:
You may already know that Focus on Energy offers a $500 bonus incentive to homeowners who build a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® Home or improve their homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program. What you may not know is that Focus will extend this special bonus to homeowners who install wind energy systems starting July 1, 2009!
That’s right — when you build a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home or fully participate in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, you’ll automatically qualify to receive a $500 bonus above and beyond the standard financial incentive when you install a wind turbine, solar electric or solar hot water system!
With this $500 bonus, we hope to encourage Wisconsin homeowners to take a “whole-house” approach to economic and environmental sustainability. The benefits of living in a high-performance, renewably powered home are many, and Focus on Energy wants to help you enjoy them affordably.
Build efficient with Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes.
Building a new home is a major investment. Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes can help you make the most of that investment with a home that saves energy and money. New homes certified by the program automatically qualify for the $500 bonus when a solar or wind energy system is installed.*
Improve efficiency with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR helps you make energy efficient improvements that save money and increase the comfort, safety and durability of your existing home. Homeowners who participate in this program prior to installing a solar or wind energy system are automatically qualified for the $500 bonus.*
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Sara Daehn in the Cresco Times-Plain Dealer:
Cresco, Iowa – Construction is underway on a 99-megawatt wind farm near Riceville.
The Crane Creek Wind Project will consist of 66 GE 1.5 megawatt wind turbines and is expected to generate electricity to provide for the energy needs of approximately 27,000 homes serviced by investor-owned electric and natural gas utility Wisconsin Public Service, who will take over ownership of the project upon completion.
About 50-60 construction workers began working at the site of the Crane Creek Wind Project, located at 9895 Fir Ave. in rural Riceville, on April 13. So far, crews have been busy mobilizing the construction site, pouring foundations for each turbine and creating access roads.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin wind energy development stands still because of local opposition to wind siting. In other words, local opposition hasn’t stopped Wisconsin utilities from developing and electricity customers from using wind-generated electricity. The opposition just sends the jobs to workers in Iowa and Minnesota.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
In a presentation to the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, RENEW Wisconsin’s executive director Michael Vickerman reviewed wind generation’s role in baseload planning. He also reviewed the perspective on baseload of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
+ Baseload power is an obsolete concept
+ Both baseload plants and windpower are primarily energy resources
+ From a flexibility perspective, wind is superior
+ Curtailing windpower to allow inflexible baseload plants to keep operating is inefficient, wasteful and damaging to the environment.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Marshfield News Herald:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Plans to eliminate a state fund that helped a local manufacturer lay the groundwork for a wind energy component plant aren’t expected to have an immediate impact on the company.
Members of the state Joint Finance Committee cut all $30 million Gov. Jim Doyle proposed for the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund as part of an effort to wipe out the state’s $6.6 billion biennial budget deficit. The budget still needs approval from both chambers of the Legislature and the governor before going into effect.
“In an optimum world, of course we’d like to see that (funding),” said Sam Fairchild, chief executive officer of Energy Composites Corp., which merged with Wisconsin Rapids-based Advanced Fiberglass Technologies in October. “But at the end of the day, I can understand the pressures the state is facing.”
Advanced Fiberglass Technologies garnered a $1 million loan in September through the fund to assist in its move into the wind energy industry. The manufacturer plans to begin construction in July on a 350,000-square-foot plant that will produce blades for industrial wind turbines and create at least 400 jobs in Wisconsin Rapids.
The proposed two-year suspension of the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund program would not affect the $7.3 million already awarded to 28 companies statewide, Doyle spokeswoman Carla Vigue said Thursday.
Although he cares about the 10-year, $150 million program, the governor would reluctantly approve the cut if it’s included in the Legislature’s final version of the budget, Vigue said.
