TOWN RESIDENTS WANT WIND TURBINE MORATORIUM
Source Barron News-Shield, www.zwire.com
September 24 2010
Some residents from the town of Forest in St. Croix County aren’t happy with a proposal to introduce wind turbines in their area.
The Tribune Press Reporter reports that local residents have asked their town board for a moratorium on wind turbine developments-a month after the board approved a developer’s agreement with Emerging Energies of Wisconsin to build 37 495-foot turbines there.
More than 100 concerned citizens from Forest attended a recent town board meeting to show their support for a moratorium.
The organized group is also pressing government officials for copies of a number of documents under open records law.
Included in their requests are proof of insurance for the developer, all copies of electronic correspondence between Emerging Energies of Wisconsin and town of Forest officials,board meeting minutes and more.
NOTE FROM THE BPWI RESEARCH NERD:
Emerging Energies was founded by Bill Rakocy who also sits on the Wind Siting Council.
Conflict of interest questions have been raised about the wind siting council, as the majority of council members have a direct or indirect financial interest the outcome of the rules.
Should wind developers seeking profit help write the laws governing wind siting for all of Wisconsin?
“We’re excited to develop as much wind as we can in Wisconsin,” says [Emerging Energies] partner Bill Rakocy."
“The permitting process is a rather long-term effort,” says Rakocy.
“A conditional use permit is good for two years, typically, and it may take you all of that two years to get the balance of the project details put in place.
And then there’s production tax credits available from the federal government, and if they expire in the midst of the project, all your work is for naught.”
SOURCE: "Wind Power's Wind Fall" Marketplace Magazine
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