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Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Says She Is Stunned At Windfarm-radar Controversy

Radio Plus, INC (Original link)
May 12, 2006

The Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor is weighing in on news that state wind energy projects are on hold because of Homeland Security radar concerns. Renew Wisconsin says an open ended stop work order is in place for more than a dozen wind projects...including the Horicon Marsh windfarm. The projects are on hold until a turbine blade-radar impact study is complete and published in the Congressional Report. Lieutenant Governor, Barbara Lawton, tells AM 1170 WFDL's Between the Liens program she is absolutely stunned to hear the news. Lawton says you would think the potential radar concern would have been addressed years ago.

Horicon Marsh System Advocates spokesman, Kurt Kindschuh, says the group is very pleased to hear the news. Horicon Marsh System Advocates are opposed to the Forward Energy project. Renew Wisconsin director, Michael Vickerman, says the Defense Department study is already behind schedule...and may not be completed until the fall. Kindschuh says he wonders if that could kill the project. Vickerman says he wouldn't go that far...but says the project will certainly be delayed. Vickerman says if the moratorium persists through the summer it may not be possible to build a wind project in time to capture federal tax credits which were extended through the end of 2007. He says the economic damage from a one year suspension of windfarm construction in Wisconsin will easily reach the tens of millions of dollars.

5-12 renew wisconsin director says horicon marsh windfarm project will be delayed at least a year

The Executive Director of Renew Wisconsin says the Horicon Marsh windfarm has been delayed at least a year. Michael Vickerman says a study on wind turbine's blades impact with radar will prevent several wind projects from starting this year as planned...including the Forward Energy project in Fond du lac and Dodge county. Vickerman says if construction doesn't start next spring...it will be delayed even further...possibly to 2008. Vickerman says he doesn't believe a moratorium on windfarm construction was necessary to do the study. He says there is no proof that the Horicon Marsh windfarm would even impact radar. Vickerman will be a guest this morning on AM 1170's Between the Lines program.