Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal for Wisconsin to get 25 percent of its electrical power from renewable sources by the year 2025. That's an ambitious and admirable goal. Wisconsin and other states must foster the development of renewable energy sources.
The state's ability to develop wind power projects will play a big part in whether the 25 percent goal is met. Thus far, wind farm development in Wisconsin has met significant opposition at the community level.
One example is Trempealeau County in western Wisconsin. There, last December, the county board approved an ordinance prohibiting AgWind Energy Partners from erecting wind turbines within a mile from any habitable structures and within a half-mile from property lines. Essentially, the county shut out any wind farm development. AgWind managing director Jim Naleid told the Winona Daily News that the ordinance was unreasonable, unnecessary and "overkill beyond words" from the state's model ordinance.
The resistance met in Trempealeau County has occurred in other locales, as well. That's why State Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, and State Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, have crafted bipartisan legislation that would prevent local governments from taking such extreme measures to turn away wind farm development.
Senate Bill 544 was advanced with a 4-3 vote Friday out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail. House Bill 899 still is in committee. The proposal has the governor's backing.
The legislation would establish uniform, statewide siting standards for wind turbines. As opponents of the bill point out, it would override local ordinances already written.
Taking local control out of local decisions generally is undesirable. In this case, however, it is the only way to prevent wind farms from being blocked in Wisconsin community by community. The Legislature should back the bill, and give it to the governor to sign before the current session ends this week.
On a state and national level, there is a fiscal and environmental need for developing renewable energy sources. Wisconsin should become a leader in this pursuit.
The state's Public Service Commission already has permitting and pre-emption authority over larger wind farm projects, those over 100 megawatts. This legislation would extend that authority to all proposals. It would give consistency to what Plale said is a dysfunctional siting system.
"Many worthy wind turbine developments are being delayed or canceled due to restrictions and requirements that are expensive, time consuming and often an inaccurate representation of scientific facts," Plale said in a news release last week.
Quite often, opposition to wind farms (like ethanol plants and other renewable energy projects) comes from a small but very vocal group of people. Their objections often are understandable. They don't want to live near, and have to look at daily, large wind turbines. But if every renewable fuel project could be stopped anywhere there is a back yard within a mile, there'd be no projects at all.
That is unacceptable. The state should be allowed to set sensible, universal guidelines that will promote wind farm development while also protecting the safety and Wisconsin's citizens.
The state's ability to develop wind power projects will play a big part in whether the 25 percent goal is met. Thus far, wind farm development in Wisconsin has met significant opposition at the community level.
One example is Trempealeau County in western Wisconsin. There, last December, the county board approved an ordinance prohibiting AgWind Energy Partners from erecting wind turbines within a mile from any habitable structures and within a half-mile from property lines. Essentially, the county shut out any wind farm development. AgWind managing director Jim Naleid told the Winona Daily News that the ordinance was unreasonable, unnecessary and "overkill beyond words" from the state's model ordinance.
The resistance met in Trempealeau County has occurred in other locales, as well. That's why State Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, and State Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, have crafted bipartisan legislation that would prevent local governments from taking such extreme measures to turn away wind farm development.
Senate Bill 544 was advanced with a 4-3 vote Friday out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail. House Bill 899 still is in committee. The proposal has the governor's backing.
The legislation would establish uniform, statewide siting standards for wind turbines. As opponents of the bill point out, it would override local ordinances already written.
Taking local control out of local decisions generally is undesirable. In this case, however, it is the only way to prevent wind farms from being blocked in Wisconsin community by community. The Legislature should back the bill, and give it to the governor to sign before the current session ends this week.
On a state and national level, there is a fiscal and environmental need for developing renewable energy sources. Wisconsin should become a leader in this pursuit.
The state's Public Service Commission already has permitting and pre-emption authority over larger wind farm projects, those over 100 megawatts. This legislation would extend that authority to all proposals. It would give consistency to what Plale said is a dysfunctional siting system.
"Many worthy wind turbine developments are being delayed or canceled due to restrictions and requirements that are expensive, time consuming and often an inaccurate representation of scientific facts," Plale said in a news release last week.
Quite often, opposition to wind farms (like ethanol plants and other renewable energy projects) comes from a small but very vocal group of people. Their objections often are understandable. They don't want to live near, and have to look at daily, large wind turbines. But if every renewable fuel project could be stopped anywhere there is a back yard within a mile, there'd be no projects at all.
That is unacceptable. The state should be allowed to set sensible, universal guidelines that will promote wind farm development while also protecting the safety and Wisconsin's citizens.
