In giving two Mequon land owners a second
chance to obtain permits to build backyard
wind turbines, the state Appeals Court also
created a statewide precedent Wednesday that
restricts municipal regulation of wind energy
projects, attorneys representing wind energy
concerns said.

The appellate court's decision boosts the
chances that a proposed 28-turbine wind farm
will be permitted in Washington County, said
an attorney representing the Florida utility,
FPL Energy, which wants to build the project.

. . .

The reason is that a 1993 state energy law
adopted to promote installation of wind
turbines in Wisconsin purposely limits a
municipality's authority to restrict such
projects, according to the appellate court.

. . .

The original request came from the men because
of their so-called Y2K fears of power failures,
but the men have continued to pursue their cause.

JSOnline

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), March 08, 2001