Forest Voice pleased with PSC decision
Statement from The Forest Voice
The members and supporters of the Forest Voice are pleased that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission made the right decision to uphold the public health and welfare by denying a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Highland Wind.
The Forest Voice has believed from the start that irresponsible siting of wind turbines too close to homes is the base issue with industrial wind energy resulting in neighbor health problems such as sleep deprivation, nausea, headaches, ear pain, and dizziness, all consistent with the effects of infrasound and low frequency noise (ILFN). We believe proper industrial wind turbine siting based on science is the best form of mitigation.
Commissioners Montgomery and Nowak found the project would not comply with PSC 128 noise standards, the wind siting rules for projects up to 100 MW, and not in the public interest, as it “would create individuals hardships.” Commissioner Callisto would have approved the project only with conditions.
The Commission did not include in its decision conditions or requirements concerning ILFN information gained from testing that took place at Shirley Wind in Glenmore, WI, the site of the wind developer’s, Emerging Energies, only wind energy project. However, Commissioner Nowak stated that more needs to be done and ILFN will be a key issue in future projects. Ms. Nowak stated the subject [of ILFN] needs continued study.
Three Glenmore families have left their homes and affidavits representing 50 people, testify to health issues that appeared after Shirley Wind went online in 2010. The proposed Highland Wind Farm would have been five times the size of Shirley Wind, a 102.5 MW system, which would have consisted of 41 to 44 nearly 500-foot tall industrial turbines concentrated in a 22 square mile area.
