Front Generator Wind Turbine

Developers of the only major wind project on the drawing board in Wisconsin are appealing to the state Public Service Commission to rethink its recent split decision blocking a construction permit for the Highland Wind Farm.

The $250 million project stalled when the commission, on a 2-1 vote, decided to deploy a more conservative standard with regard to wind turbine noise limits.

The commission decided not to allow the project to proceed, because the state noise limit might be exceeded on occasion for several homes near the project.

But Emerging Energies Inc. of Hubertus said the project does not need to be re-designed to accommodate the noise concerns. Instead, the developer said it planned to pre-program turbines that could cause noise problems to power down if wind speeds are such that the limits could be exceeded.

The developer urged the PSC, in an “emergency request” filed Friday afternoon, to respond by allowing the development to proceed without requiring the developer to start over on the project.

Groups opposed to and supporting the project have been asked to weigh in on the Highland Wind Farm request by Wednesday. Highland is asking the commission to take up the matter at its weekly meeting on Friday.

PSC spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch said it was premature to speculate on whether the agency would take another look at the project. The commission will wait to review the responses to Highland’s request, she said.

Emerging Energies says it has worked for six years and invested nearly $2 million in development of the project, located in St. Croix County, northwest of Eau Claire.

Responding to the filing, a coalition of towns in Sheboygan County -- where Emerging Energies has proposed a smaller wind farm -- urged the commission to reject the request. The commission shouldn't take into account the developer's past investment and allow a "rush to judgment," the coalition said.

The coalition cited concerns about low-frequency noise and health concerns at the Shirley wind project in Brown County. Those concerns should prompt the commission to bar the Highland project and other wind farms until they are addressed, the group said. 

The developer is seeking quick action from the commission because it wants its wind farm to be considered by Xcel Energy Inc., which recently announced it was seeking bids for additional wind power to serve its customers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Xcel operates a utility based in Eau Claire but in essence operates its utilities as one system serving parts of both states.

In its filing, Highland said it would be a waste of potential economic development to keep the project from proceeding on a technical matter that can be easily addressed.

Opponents of the project are concerned about noise, shadow flicker and the potential loss of property value associated with the project.

But Highland said the project as submitted complies with the state’s wind siting rules, which specifically allow developers to comply with the noise standard by curtailing production at certain times.