Another victim of Gov. Scott Walker: Developer cancels plan for big wind farm

[1776Forever]

By Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel
March 21, 2011 5:28 p.m. |(43) Comments

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/118397164.html

Chicago energy development firm Invenergy on Monday notified state regulators that it’s withdrawing plans to build a large wind power project south of Green Bay.

The project, announced in October 2009, would have seen construction of 94 to 100 turbines in and generated 150 megawatts of electricity. Based on energy output, it would have been the second-largest wind project in the state, after the Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County.

The proposal generated significant opposition in rural Brown County, with residents of towns that would host the project generating much of the opposition to wind siting rules that are being debated in Madison.

The company said it was concerned about moving forward because of the state of flux in Wisconsin’s regulatory climate when it comes to wind siting. Gov. Scott Walker has proposed a bill that would sharply curtail wind development, and a legislative committee moved this month to block a less restrictive wind siting standard from taking effect.

(more at link)

...............

Sad!

[liberal N proud]

1. The way they are conspiring to kill wind reminds me of how the

streetcars were all run out of business.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. not to make light

because this is devastating and backwards, as is everything this man does, but here's a tweet from "GovSWalker"

G0vSWalker "I made the right decision. Placing a bunch of huge fans in an area that's already windy just seems silly to me."

[1776Forever]

4. I read on the comments that the Koch's wouldn't want Wind to be a competitor to their fossil fuel

plants - made a heck of a lot of sense!

[Auntie Bush]

7. That's what happens when big oil sticks it's nose and money into politics. nt

[A Simple Game]

8. No, he didn't really say that, did he?

No one is that stupid, are they?

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. awwwwwww,

might be someone with a similar Twitter id to Walker's. But he could have said it... :D

(actually, I'd believe it if someone told me that bush had said it!)

[Canuckistanian]

3. Railway jobs, wind energy jobs, state workers....

He seems to be determined to raise the unemployment rate in WI.

Walmart can only hire so many people.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

5. why are holyrollers so hooked on oil?

Against clean energy, and against jobs. I just do not get it.

[SayitAintSo]

6. It hastens the apocalyspe...

silly :)

[badtoworse]

9. What about the residents of Brown County? They didn't want the project.

Shouldn't their wishes be considered? There was nothing in the link detailing what Walker's restrictions would be and whether they had merit, so there is really nothing on which to base an informed opinion.

I've been involved in wind projects as a developer and a potential buyer of wind farms. They have a lot of merit if they are sited properly. A poorly sited wind farm will make life miserable for the neighbors and I'm sorry, but their rights need to be respected as well. If Walker's restrictions do that, then he is on the right side of the issue. With no facts, however, we can only speculate.

[1776Forever]

11. I don't know if the majority opposed it or not. The report said this was proposed in rural WI so it

probably could have been worked out if there were issues I would think. I wonder if people have any influence if a nuclear plant would be proposed? We are going to have to make a choice for the future and to me wind and solar are going to be the most safe of all the rest of the power producing choices.

[badtoworse]

12. You sort of made my point, there aren't any facts here.

Siting a wind farm is not as easy as many seem to think. For a decent sized farm (say 100 MW), you'll need about 5,000 acres under lease. There are noise issues, problems with flicker, proximity to airports and concerns for birds, bats and other wildlife and that assumes you've found a site with good wind, You also need to sell the power to an offtaker (and the market stinks right now). Transmission of the power is also an issue since the best wind is usually not close to the load centers.

Wind and solar have roles, but even the best projections I've seen don't have us getting more than around 20% of our energy from renewables in the next 30 years. I see coal and nuclear retaining a role, but natural gas will be the big winner.

[1776Forever]

13. Agreed. I do think Natural Gas is a winner but only if the fracking issues can be overcome! I also

know in our older neighborhood in Ohio there are huge issues with the old infrastructure that has been there for ages! We have had many issues where the natural gas has caused homes to blow up without very much warning or odor in Ohio. I had to contact our gas company over a 2 year span to make sure we had no issue because the gas smell was really terrible. They finally got it right but like I said it took almost 2 years! Let's hope for the best!

[badtoworse]

15. Just as a point of information about gas odor

Pipeline gas (i.e. the stuff in the interstate gas transmission lines) has no odor. Mercaptans (the stuff that gives gas its odor) are added by the local gas company before they inject the gas into the local distribution lines.

[1776Forever]

16. Thanks I didn't know that! n/t

[Viking12]

14. Walker is not concerned with proper siting. He's trying to kill the wind industrty

Walker’s proposal would mandate minimum setbacks of 1,800 feet between a wind turbine and the nearest property line. That compares with a setback distance of 1,250 feet from a neighboring residence approved by the Public Service Commission in a rule adopted last year and set to take effect this year.

“There are very few locations in the entire Badger State that could overcome such extreme constraints,” said Vickerman. “You can count the locations on the fingers of one hand.'”
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/01/walkers-wind-turbine-restrictions-will.html

[badtoworse]

17. I would say 1800 feet is conservative, but not extreme

The standard in Canada is 550 meters. Have you ever seen a wind turbine on a 100 meter tower? They are huge and 1250 feet is really not that far, especially considering the blades have been known to break and fly off under extreme conditions. Setback is a touchy issue since your neighbor's quality of life and property values are at risk. Some opposition groups have pushed for a 2 km setback for noise concerns - I think that is extreme.

[hedgehog]

20. My county legislature (Oswego, NY) very quietly turned down a proposed wind

farm out in Lake Ontario. Of course, that had nothing whatsover to do with their efforts to get a fourth nuclear power plant built here!

So, what were the wishes of the people of Oswego County?

[badtoworse]

21. Seriously, the county legislature wanted a nuke?

That would be unique in my experience (28 years in the power business). Local governments generally fought nukes tooth and nail.

What you so sure it wasn't opposition from people owning lakefront homes, boaters, fishermen and the tourist industry

[Blue Owl]

18. Walker Breaks Big Wind

His Majesty hath declared that no one shall harness the limitless, relatively safe form of wind energy.

Long Live the King!

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

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