by jboullion | Sep 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Colleen Kottke in The Northwestern (Oshkosh):
In the years since the Forward Wind Energy Center came on line, “For Sale” signs have popped up all over Gerry Meyer’s rural neighborhood in the town of Byron. . . .
Meyer is convinced that the aesthetically displeasing look of the 400-foot turbines and subsequent ill effects experienced by nearby residents from the noise, vibration and light-flicker has caused housing values to plummet.
A just-released study commissioned by wind-power opponents concurs, saying that property values have fallen at least 19 percent for properties located near the We Energies wind farm in Fond du Lac County and 12 percent for those located near Invenergy’s Forward Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.
The study by Appraisal Group One was commissioned by a Calumet County affiliate of the state Coalition for Wisconsin Environmental Steward, a group fighting a We Energies wind farm project in Columbia County.
‘Quite a reach’
Brian Manthey, a spokesman for We Energies, said the report failed to make accurate comparisons in properties used to track declining values.
“They compared subdivision and lake view lots when the properties in our wind farm area were considered agricultural lots back in 2006. Ultimately, they figured in the sale of four lots, which is tough to draw any comparisons when using such a small scale,” said Manthey, who described the report’s findings as “quite a reach.”
Since construction of the 88-turbine project in the Blue Sky Green Field project in the towns of Calumet and Marshfield, Manthey said 12 homes have been sold; some homes sold above assessed value while others sold below fair market values. Manthey said the report is misleading in that it doesn’t take into consideration other factors impacting property values.
by jboullion | Sep 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Colleen Kottke in The Northwestern (Oshkosh):
In the years since the Forward Wind Energy Center came on line, “For Sale” signs have popped up all over Gerry Meyer’s rural neighborhood in the town of Byron. . . .
Meyer is convinced that the aesthetically displeasing look of the 400-foot turbines and subsequent ill effects experienced by nearby residents from the noise, vibration and light-flicker has caused housing values to plummet.
A just-released study commissioned by wind-power opponents concurs, saying that property values have fallen at least 19 percent for properties located near the We Energies wind farm in Fond du Lac County and 12 percent for those located near Invenergy’s Forward Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.
The study by Appraisal Group One was commissioned by a Calumet County affiliate of the state Coalition for Wisconsin Environmental Steward, a group fighting a We Energies wind farm project in Columbia County.
‘Quite a reach’
Brian Manthey, a spokesman for We Energies, said the report failed to make accurate comparisons in properties used to track declining values.
“They compared subdivision and lake view lots when the properties in our wind farm area were considered agricultural lots back in 2006. Ultimately, they figured in the sale of four lots, which is tough to draw any comparisons when using such a small scale,” said Manthey, who described the report’s findings as “quite a reach.”
Since construction of the 88-turbine project in the Blue Sky Green Field project in the towns of Calumet and Marshfield, Manthey said 12 homes have been sold; some homes sold above assessed value while others sold below fair market values. Manthey said the report is misleading in that it doesn’t take into consideration other factors impacting property values.
by jboullion | Sep 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Wisconsin Farmers Union:
Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Sept. 18, 2009) – Wisconsin Farmers Union praised the state Legislature for approving wind siting reform legislation earlier this week. WFU President Sue Carlson said it was an important step toward renewing the energy of rural Wisconsin’s economy. The measure will implement uniform, statewide standards for small and medium-sized wind energy installations in the state.
“Allowing farmers and rural residents the ability to build wind turbines on their property can add to their bottom line while keeping energy dollars in Wisconsin,” Carlson said. “Effective statewide wind siting standards will create green jobs and will enable farmers to continue be the economic drivers of our rural communities through new energy opportunities.”
The wind siting bill passed the state assembly on Wednesday and the state senate on Tuesday. Broad bipartisan support marked its passage, and now the bill will move to the governor’s desk to await his signature before becoming law. Once signed by the Gov. Jim Doyle, the law will trigger a rule-making process by the Public Service Commission to formulate statewide standards for wind siting in Wisconsin.
by jboullion | Sep 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article submitted by Focus on Energy and published in the Wausau Daily Herald:
Small systems an attainable way to generate renewable energy
For more than 1,000 years, we have been harnessing the power of wind to sail boats, pump water and grind grain. As time passed, new uses for wind power evolved and today it is used to generate clean renewable power for homes, businesses, farms and schools.
And demand for this clean power is growing as Focus on Energy co-funded small wind turbine installations are expected to more than double in 2009 compared with 2008.
Wind turbines have become an important technology in the search for a renewable way to generate electricity. And as this technology improves, a growing number of Wisconsin residents and businesses are investing their time and resources into this industry. In many of these cases, small wind turbines make the most sense.
A small wind turbine has a rated capacity of 100 kilowatts, or kW, or less. These systems work when wind passing over the turbine creates a rotary motion that turns an electric generator and creates electricity.
The electricity output of a wind turbine depends on its size and the wind’s speed through the rotor. As wind speed increases, the energy produced increases exponentially. For example, a 10 percent increase in average annual wind speed from 10 mph to 11 mph can result in a 33 percent increase in total electricity production.
“A 10 kW wind turbine can generate about 10,000 to 16,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, a bit more than the amount of electricity a typical household uses,” said Rich Hasselman, small wind technical lead for Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
by jboullion | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
Wisconsin wind energy prospects advanced with bipartisan Assembly support for legislation to set uniform statewide permitting rules.
Under the Wind for Wisconsin umbrella, more than 60 organizations as diverse as unions, trade associations, environmental advocates, health groups, and renewable energy manufacturers sought uniform permitting standards for future wind developments.
As in the State Senate, Senate Bill 185 won bipartisan approval from 48 Democrats and 17 Republicans voting in favor of passage.
Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit sustainable energy advocacy organization, expects Governor Doyle to sign the bill into law.
“The Assembly’s vote is critical to reviving the development of a high priority renewable energy resource in accordance with Wisconsin energy policy,” said Vickerman.
“We believe that wind energy suppliers will see the action as an invitation to locate and do business in Wisconsin. Our economy will benefit from the investment and jobs in a sustainable energy future,” Vickerman said.
“We look forward to working with the Public Service Commission in shaping the specific standards for permitting wind projects,” Vickerman said.
“RENEW and our members thank Rep. James Soletski (D-Green Bay) and Rep. Phil Montgomery (R-Green Bay) for guiding the proposal through the Assembly. The entire legislature should be proud of this accomplishment, which we view as a prerequisite for a more aggressive renewable energy standard likely to be included in a comprehensive global warming legislative package,” commented Vickerman.
The bill now goes to Governor Doyle for his signature before becoming law.
Read additional statements from Rep. James Soletski and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan.
