Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com
Published - Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Townships pass wind ordinances
For several years, wind energy production has been an issue of debate in Monroe County. In 2006, the county passed an ordinance on wind turbines, but for some, the ordinance wasn’t enough.
Several townships in Monroe County have passed wind energy ordinances of their own this summer to create more specific guidelines on the location and decibel levels of wind turbines.
The Township of Wilton passed a Wind Energy Conversion Systems ordinance on July 8 after putting together a committee and looking at other ordinances from around the state.
“The ordinance is much more comprehensive than the county’s,” Wilton Town Chairman and Monroe County Dist. 8 Supervisor Rick Irwin said of Wilton’s 31-page ordinance. “The county ordinances are vague for someone that would apply for a conditional use permit as to where they can go.”
The ordinance states that under state law, electric generating facilities of less than 100 megawatts are subject to regulations enacted by counties and local units of government. The Town of Wilton is under the Monroe County Zoning and Wind Energy System Ordinance, which regulates such facilities. However, according to the Wilton ordinance, the county ordinance has insufficient standards to protect the public health and safety of the residents and property owners of Wilton.
“This was done in the interest of health and safety of the residents of the Town of Wilton,” Irwin said. “There is so much information out there. According to the county, wind turbines have to be at least 1,000 feet from someone’s home. We didn’t feel that cushion was long enough.”
The Wilton ordinance allows wind turbines to be no closer than 2,640 feet from a home, or any occupied building. It also does not allow turbines to be built any closer than 1,300 feet from a someone’s property line.
“We did some research, and a wind farm manufacturer thought that no one should be working within 1,300 feet of a wind tower,” Irwin said.
The ordinance also sets standards for such issues as decibel levels, aircraft protection, communications interference, roads, stray voltage, and groundwater protection.
A committee was put together to explore the effects of wind turbines, and Irwin said that anyone interested was invited to help with the development of the ordinance. While there has been debate from both sides of the wind power issue for the past several years in Monroe County, Irwin said that the committee heard little opposition during the development process.
“The public was welcome, and people came,” Irwin said. “But we didn’t see voiced opposition.”
The Township of Ridgeville passed a Wind Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance on Aug. 4. The first of a series of meetings by the Ridgeville Wind Tower Plan Commission was held in February. Steve Krueger, the chairperson, joined with five other people who were appointed to put the commission together.
Ridgeville Town Chairman Mike Luethe said that the commission took studies and evidence of what the Town of Ridgeville needed to do to draw up an ordinance to protect the township.
“One of the main components is the 1,000 feet set back from a home was moved back to a half-mile,” Luethe said. “The decibel levels were addressed, too. Things that were not put in the county ordinance, we put in this ordinance. We wanted to make sure we are protecting ourself.
While the issue of wind power in Monroe County will likely continue, the option of wind farms is a possibility. Now, in several townships, there will be increased regulation. Irwin said that he is open with wind turbines being built in the county, just as long as he feels that they meet regulation standards in the interest of safety.
“Anyone that would build them would have to adhere to the regulations and licensing, and I see no problem with wind turbines,” Irwin said. “This wasn’t done arbitrarily. We have a lot of information now, and turbines around the country that seem to be successful are the ones that are away from people.”
All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.