Mailbag: Zweizig responds to Wis. State Journal On wind and NIMBY----

(ed.note; Reprinted with permission is the response of Mr Doug Zweizig of the Town of Union Plan Commission on the assertion by the Wisconsin State Journal last week that the State of Wisconsin should proceed to overturn or sidestep the ordinances of local townships that establish setbacks for wind turbines to protect human health as simply NIMBY politics----The Town of Union has been a leader nationally in the investigation of the effects of wind noise on human health. )

From: dougzweizig@hotmail.com
To: smilfred@madison.com
Subject: response to editorial
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:39:33 +0000

Dear Mr. Milford,

The editorial, "Give wind farms a fair shake," in the December 12 WSJ misses the story regarding wind farms. By relying on wind industry and Public Service Commission sources, the editorial writers missed the injury to humans from sound produced by large wind turbines, a phenomenon that can be experienced by typing in "wind turbines" on Youtube. If Youtube videos are not persuasive, Brownsville and other sites can be visited.


As a member of a Town's Plan Commission, I have learned that the Public Service Commission failed in its duty to protect the citizens of Wisconsin by relying on wind industry lobbyists and producing a Model Ordinance dictated by them. The result is that local governments have had to do the Public Service Commission's job by doing thorough research and in creating ordinances, at considerable local expense, that protect the health and safety of their residents. The injurious sound produced by large wind turbines is not blocked by walls and is only mitigated by distance from the turbines. A distance of a half a mile appears to be the minimum required to avoid negative effects.


Characterizing the protection of citizens as simply self-interested NIMBY demonstrates ignorance of the issues. It is disappointing that the Wisconsin State Journal, a newspaper that prides itself on seeking out information, would base an editorial on such superficial and interested sources.
Best regards,
Doug Zweizig

Doug Zweizig 6037 N. Finn Road Evansville, WI 53536 608-882-4225

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Here is the article from the WSJ:

THU., DEC 11, 2008 - 6:10 PM
Give wind farms a fair chance
A Wisconsin State Journal editorial
Wisconsin cannot afford to let the statewide interest in developing wind farms be frustrated by communities that adopt a "not in my backyard" attitude.

That's why the state should develop reasonable wind farm siting standards to guide and limit local government regulation of wind farms and to provide an avenue of appeal for developers.

Links
• NEWS ARTICLE: Wind over water

The goal should be to prohibit the "not in my backyard" disease known as NIMBYism while preserving local authority to restrict or reject wind farms when warranted.

Recent proposals to erect wind turbines on and near the Great Lakes demonstrate that it's in the public interest to take advantage of wind power. Wind power is expected to meet 90 percent of Wisconsin's goal to more than double the renewable energy contribution to electric needs over the next six years.

When developers propose wind farms of more than 100 megawatts in size they face a rigorous review from the state Public Service Commission, which protects both the public interest in regulation and the interest in wind power.

However, small wind farm developers fall outside the PSC's jurisdiction and are left to local regulation. Too often, they are blocked by unreasonable restrictions.

Local governments are frequently cowed into imposing impossible-to-meet requirements, or even moratoriums, after opponents raise alarming concerns, commonly based on misinformation.

Trempeleau County, for example, in 2007 adopted a wind power ordinance requiring turbines to be set back at least a mile from any neighboring residence, school, hospital or business. The ordinance effectively banned turbines.

The Legislature should step in. The Sensible Wind Siting Bill, which failed to pass earlier this year, offered a sound solution.

The bill -- proposed by Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, and Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay -- required the PSC to issue model rules specifying what restrictions local governments can impose on wind farms. Furthermore, the bill granted developers a right to appeal a local decision to the PSC.

The adoption of similar legislation should be a top priority for lawmakers in 2009.

Wisconsin should not let NIMBYism harm the public interest in a clean, renewable source of electricity.