(Gov. Scott) Walker (R-jobkiller WI) says he won't bypass Legislature in wind-farm regulation

[jpak]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_09907d34-30c0-11e0-bbdf-001cc4c002e0.html

Gov. Scott Walker backed off a suggestion Friday that he might attempt to bypass the Legislature in his bid to tighten regulations on wind farms in the state.

Earlier this week, lawmakers decided to put the brakes on a Walker bill that would dramatically increase the distance between wind turbines and adjacent property lines.

The proposal would make Wisconsin among the toughest regulatory environments in the country for the wind industry.

The governor's spokesman, Cullen Werwie, said Thursday it was possible the governor could achieve his goal through a rules change in the Public Service Commission. Such a move would effectively bypass the Legislature. On Friday, the governor said it was not likely he would take that route.

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[tularetom]

1. I hate to say it but I don't totally disagree with his proposal

I don't believe the effects of living in proximity to a large bank of wind turbines has yet been fully explored.

I understand that this guy Walker thinks he's being cute by clamping down on a "green" energy source which he thinks will infuriate Dems and "liberals", but in this case I'm not sure some caution wouldn't be a good idea.

Sometimes a blind squirrel finds a stopped clock twice a day. Or whatever that saying is. Sometimes even an asshole is right.

[jpak]

2. There is no peer reviewed evidence that wind turbines adversely impact human health.

Global wind turbine deployments have exceeded 175,000 MW.

Danish citizens have been living with thousands of wind turbines for decades.

With that many wind turbines deployed over that period of time, one would think that impacts on human health would have manifested themselves.

They have not.

There are lots of oft-repeated urban legends about wind turbines, but no data to back them up.

yup

[Kaleva]

4. It's more of a property rights issue in Wi. then a health/noise issue

Current rules stipulate a 1250 ft. setback from any neighboring residence. This would allow a wind farm company to erect a wind turbine within 440 feet of a property line and claim 700 feet into the neighboring property as a safety/collapse zone as long as the turbine itself was no closer then 1250 ft. from a neighboring residence. In the future, the neighboring property owner may not plant trees or build any structure within the safety/collapse zone even though they own the property unless they receive first permission to do so from the wind farm company. Even then, insurance company's may not insure the new structure as it lays withing the safety zone.

The new rules proposed by Gov. Walker would stipulate that the entire safety/collapse zone lay within the property of the wind farm company. Neighboring property owners may grant the wind farm company a waiver to erect wind turbines closer to the property line but the turbine would still have to be at least 1250 ft. from any residence.

[madrchsod]

3. i noticed some of the walker lovers have`t commented at wsj..

i comment a few days a week just to piss off the walker fans..