Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Legislation Blocking Wind Turbine Siting Rules May Get Quick Senate Vote Today

As if the mining fiasco planned for State Senate consideration wasn't enough for activists to follow today, there are reports that parliamentary maneuvering by Republicans will bring for quick consideration also today a bill in the State Senate to effectively block wind turbine siting rules - - years in the making  - - that will force the Public Service Commission to waste more time starting the rule-writing process all over again.

In that interim - - lost construction jobs, dirtier air and more identity for the state being closed to alternative energy generation and high-tech manufacturing.

The votes of some legislators with good environmental records in both parties are said to be in play:

Residents of Wisconsin and supporters of wind power who would like to see the state’s uniform wind siting rules take effect are encouraged to contact the state’s Senators and tell them not to suspend the rules, particularly Senators Jon Erpenbach, Kathleen Vinehout, Dale Schultz, Alberta Darling, and Neal Kedzie.

3 comments:

Gareth said...

You have to hand it to the Republican Luddites, they are boldly fighting to keep Wisconsin from moving into the 21st century.

I still can't believe we're debating birth control again, WTF?

Ron R said...

How about this? We have a rules that says relax the restrictions on Wind Power Turbines that are built with steel made from iron ore mined in Wisconsin. Isn't compromise grat?

Doug Zweizig said...

This blog should read more than press releases from the wind industry. The installation of wind turbines has no effect on the air quality in Wisconsin because the coal-fired plants continue to run (and less efficiently) to act as backup when wind fails.
Further, the location of industrial-size (500 feet!) wind turbines on Wisconsin-size farms has resulted in serious health effects on those living nearby and loss of property values.