No surprise there.
The long stalemate over windmill siting rules could become a moot point if the Legislature approves a new bill that keeps the power over turbine placement in the hands of local officials.
Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, late last week introduced a bill that would allow officials in cities, villages, towns and counties to establish the minimum distance between a wind turbine and a home — even if those rules are more restrictive than any the state tries to enact.
"The situation now is sort of lawless," said Rob Kovach, Lasee's chief of staff. "Townships don't really know where they stand."
New statewide wind siting rules, more than a year in the making, were suspended just before going into effect last March. Lawmakers sent those rules, which dealt with wind farms of less than 100 megawatts, back to the state Public Service Commission, where they have stayed as officials worked to reach a compromise between industry supporters and their critics.
Conservatives bemoan complex regulatory schemes that make it difficult for businesses to invest money in Wisconsin. And then on the flip side, when it's a green business, conservatives are happy to endorse a system which would allow each of Wisconsin's nearly 2,000 municipal governments to create and enforce its own unique regulatory standards.
Stupid.
3 comments:
Set aside the "green business" aspect of it for a moment...
If it were any other business building a facility wouldn't it need to comply with local zoning ordinances & restrictions?
I'm a conservative, but actually love the windmills. I think there's a ton of really illogical and dishonest arguments against them. That said, I'm not sure I see a reason to prevent local municipalities from turning them away if the so choose.
Conservatives seem perfectly okay having decisions about mining made at the state level. Why would you suggest that green energy be treated differently?
Personally, I think generating energy is a matter of statewide interest and accordingly those decisions and standards should be made at the state level.
I don't know that I really argued they should. Honestly I'm trying to work through what I think about these issues myself.
I guess I can see how mining might be a better comparison to energy than your typical business - and the point about energy being a larger issue. That said, I think the two are very different too. Mining is directly and completely tied to location. Certainly wind power generation is location dependent - but there are countless other locations that are as suitable to any one. Until there are no other viable alternatives, I don't see a reason to take a heavy-handed approach.
How about a discount to energy customers where power plants, wind farms & hydro are located?
Post a Comment