Union commission recommends turbine regulation
UNION TOWNSHIP — The Town of Union Plan Commission unanimously approved a recommendation for an ordinance regulating wind turbines Thursday.
The recommendation will go the town board, which will host a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Eager Free Public Library, 39 W. Main St., Evansville.
Plan commission member Doug Zweizig expects the board to take action on the ordinance after the hearing.
The ordinance prohibits construction of turbines within a half mile of occupied structures, Zweizig said. The setback may be reduced to 1,000 feet with permission from property owners or neighbors, he said.
The ordinance also includes strict sound-control regulations and requires testing for sound after construction of a turbine, Zweizig said.
The town and its residents put a lot of work into reworking the state’s model ordinance, Zweizig said.
"This small township has worked for over a year because the model provided by the state was hopelessly inadequate," Zweizig said. "It was a huge expenditure of time and money for a small township because the state failed to do it."
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Nov 3, 2008 at 9:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
If anyone has driven past Stoughton trailers in the last 3 months you will see the large cylindrical rebar assemblies for the wind turbines foundations in the parking lot.
Magnolia doesn't want them, Union doesn't want them. E-ville had better get planting them soon.
If E-ville paid $100k for the swamp to the south of the new F.D. building (like they paid for the F.D. land) a fleet of turbines could be planted to power the new wastewater plant.
At 22% working efficiency, the turbines would be a great fit.
Nov 2, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Well I don’t know about all these businesses hooking up to the Lake Leota turbines, remember they only work about 12 minutes out of every hour. Yes, sad but true, they are only about 20% efficient. The wind developers Disneyland they refer to as Montfort over the last 6 years had an average production (capacity factor) of 22.3%. OK so maybe they work 13 minutes. But that’s probably gross production not net, turbines consume power, yes good old coal power, 24 hrs a day. Getting back to Varco and Trailers, if they are going to weld anything I think they better stay connected to the grid. I bet the Mayor is putting a call in right now, just can’t wait till Monday. Order the concrete and the re-bar. Get the turbines up running, I want my Christmas goose to be wacked by a turbine blade. A bronze statue is in order, kind of like the Statue of Liberty only Mayor Decker could be holding a tiny turbine instead of a torch.
Nov 2, 2008 at 8:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Say YES to tubines in Lake Leota!!!! With the breeze amplificiation they would provide, beautiful, colorful sailboats could return to a windlocked lake!!!!
No one on Eager Court would see these turbines as the trees would still block thier view, yet they could reap the benefits of having a "deep" lake in their back yard.
If Eville W.&.L. installed enough windmills, the whole city could get its electricity for FREE!!!! Baker Mfg. and Varco Pruden would likely expand thier operations with the possibilty of free "juice".
Stoughton Trailers and the failed bio diesel plant would return too!!(the mayor and the city could wipe off the black eye they got from the Bio-diesel plant swindle too!!)
The town of Union would love this. Maybe even erect a statue or something of the Mayor or S.O.L.E. to thier honor for following thru on this.
Yes Mayor Decker, the city council and S.O.L.E. had better "get on board" to this idea before more industries and taxpaying residents "blow" out of town.(pun intended)
Note to mayor and S.O.L.E...no need to send me a commission check or anything of that sort for this eco-friendly, green thinking idea....just start planting those turbines NOW!!!! before the winter frost sets in!!!!!! Planting time is at a premuim!
Nov 2, 2008 at 4:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
WOW!!! Wind turbines in Lake Leota, now you’re talking. By the time construction was finished the Lake would be dredged, and I am sure that the wind developer EcoEnergy and WPPI would be happy to cover the cost as part of their project. Mayor Decker it’s time to offer up some City property for the turbines you want. Why would you want turbines way out in the far corner of the Town of Union? This can be your legacy, 400’ tall wind turbines shooting up out of the Lake. Evansville residents will remember the name of Mayor Decker for the next 50 years. No permit problems. No setback issues. Construction could start immediately. I know you can trust your good friends Curt, and Eric when they tell you wind turbines make no noise and have no health or safety issues. This would be a WIN, WIN for everyone.
Nov 1, 2008 at 6:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hey....they could plant a half dozen of these turbines in Lake Leota. The $$$$$$$ earned from the lease could be used to pay for the dredging AND Evansville water & light could tap them for power.....
There is a no wake rule on the lake, so hitting one with a boat won't be a problem.
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