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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Mar 25 2008, 2:18 PM EDT | katie.dorman | 228 words added |
| Mar 25 2008, 2:08 PM EDT | katie.dorman | 3 words added, 1 word deleted |
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New windmills as seen from Highway 41 in Fond du Lac County
It's the old-school way of getting energy made new-school -- windmills. Love them or hate them, the spire-looking mills are popping up all around the world, even in Wisconsin where there are a number of places with conditions conducive to harnessing the wind and turning it into energy.
There are a number of issues that make wind energy a complex issue, in and of itself. There are concerns about birds crashing into them, their escalating size (as larger blades crank out more power per revolution), as well as the ever-popular Not-In-My-Back-Yard (NIMBY) phenomenon.
How Does it Work?
The key to the windmill is the turbine, which is the mechanism that converts the energy created by the rotation of the blades into usable electricity, located behind the blades. Getting electricity from a windmill is a pretty simple process. The wind turns the blades, which are attached to the turbine, which then takes the energy generated from said turning of the blades. From there, the electricity created is able to be transmitted through the existing electrical grid infrastructure present throughout the United States.
Wind energy, although a simple concept, is more difficult in practice than in theory. In order to effectively harness power from the wind there needs to be a sustained wind speed (i.e. the wind is always blowing). Without this, the power becomes intermittent and comes and goes at the discretion of the wind. Wind speeds are broken down into categories, numbered 1-7, 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest. One would want the wind speed to be at least a category 3, while 6 is optimal for sustained wind speeds. Wisconsin has wind speeds ranging from categories 2-5 (including on Lake Michigan), with category 3 speeds on the entire East coast of the state.
The important thing to remember about wind energy is that wind is free and relatively available. The real cost of any wind energy project is in the construction and assembly of the actual windmill itself. Beyond that, it is extremely low-cost to operate and produces no waste-emissions (i.e. carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases, etc.).
Wind energy, although a simple concept, is more difficult in practice than in theory. In order to effectively harness power from the wind there needs to be a sustained wind speed (i.e. the wind is always blowing). Without this, the power becomes intermittent and comes and goes at the discretion of the wind. Wind speeds are broken down into categories, numbered 1-7, 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest. One would want the wind speed to be at least a category 3, while 6 is optimal for sustained wind speeds. Wisconsin has wind speeds ranging from categories 2-5 (including on Lake Michigan), with category 3 speeds on the entire East coast of the state.
The important thing to remember about wind energy is that wind is free and relatively available. The real cost of any wind energy project is in the construction and assembly of the actual windmill itself. Beyond that, it is extremely low-cost to operate and produces no waste-emissions (i.e. carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases, etc.).
Wind Energy in Wisconsin
In September 2003, Governor Jim Doyle signed Executive Order #25, thus creating the Governor's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables. The goal of this order was to help Wisconsin harness more renewable energy technologies, including wind energy, so that people can still live their lives with the power they need while at the same time reducing (or at least not increasing) the impact that energy production and use has on Wisconsin's environment.
In 2005, wind energy made up 1% of all renewable energy used in Wisconsin (the statistics also include fuels, which relatively skews the numbers), which reflects a doubling in the use of wind energy from 2000. While seemingly small, wind use is statistically measurable, meaning that it's being used enough that it can be measured and makes a difference in compromising the whole of Wisconsin's alternative energy use.
Want to get in on the action? WE Energies created the Energy for Tomorrow program in which customers can elect to pay a surcharge per kilowatt hour (kWh) to have their energy come from a renewable source, which includes wind. The program was implemented after the company had measurable demand (less than 2% of total consumers) for the purchase of renewable energy. Renewable energy can be purchased in increments of 25%, 50%, or 100% of a customer's total energy bill. When a customer elects to purchase the renewable energy, WE Energies purchases that amount of energy from a renewable source. So while you may opt to have 100% of your power be from a renewable source, the renewable energy may not go directly to your home, but instead the company will purchase that amount of energy from a renewable source as opposed to using a non-renewable, such as coal.
In addition to residential energy, businesses can also purchase their energy from renewable sources. Check out which businesses are leading the way in purchasing renewable energy!
In 2005, wind energy made up 1% of all renewable energy used in Wisconsin (the statistics also include fuels, which relatively skews the numbers), which reflects a doubling in the use of wind energy from 2000. While seemingly small, wind use is statistically measurable, meaning that it's being used enough that it can be measured and makes a difference in compromising the whole of Wisconsin's alternative energy use.
Want to get in on the action? WE Energies created the Energy for Tomorrow program in which customers can elect to pay a surcharge per kilowatt hour (kWh) to have their energy come from a renewable source, which includes wind. The program was implemented after the company had measurable demand (less than 2% of total consumers) for the purchase of renewable energy. Renewable energy can be purchased in increments of 25%, 50%, or 100% of a customer's total energy bill. When a customer elects to purchase the renewable energy, WE Energies purchases that amount of energy from a renewable source. So while you may opt to have 100% of your power be from a renewable source, the renewable energy may not go directly to your home, but instead the company will purchase that amount of energy from a renewable source as opposed to using a non-renewable, such as coal.
In addition to residential energy, businesses can also purchase their energy from renewable sources. Check out which businesses are leading the way in purchasing renewable energy!
Windmills Around the Horicon Marsh Area
Perhaps the largest debate over wind energy in Wisconsin at present concerns the construction of 150 windmills on 33,000 acres surrounding the Horicon Marsh, which is located in Dodge County and is the nation's largest, freshwater cattail marsh. The marsh is significant in that it provides a relatively undisturbed habitat for endangered species, serves as a resting spot for migrating Canadian Geese, and is recognized as part of the Ice Age Scientific Reserve, which is composed of 9 areas of importance to glacial impacts on Wisconsin.
Due to its relatively flat characteristics, the areas surrounding the Horicon Marsh get good and sustained wind speeds, making them ideal locations for windmills. Opponents argue that not only the actual construction will harm the area, but also that the larger argument rests with birds that cannot decipher the blades of windmills against skies, thus crashing into them and dying. Advocates of the windmills argue that reflectors can be placed on the ends of the blades to steer the birds away from the windmills, thus avoiding injury and or death. However, the opponents disagree with this practice as it stands to cause changes in migratory patterns which can have consequences on the proper migration of birds.
Due to its relatively flat characteristics, the areas surrounding the Horicon Marsh get good and sustained wind speeds, making them ideal locations for windmills. Opponents argue that not only the actual construction will harm the area, but also that the larger argument rests with birds that cannot decipher the blades of windmills against skies, thus crashing into them and dying. Advocates of the windmills argue that reflectors can be placed on the ends of the blades to steer the birds away from the windmills, thus avoiding injury and or death. However, the opponents disagree with this practice as it stands to cause changes in migratory patterns which can have consequences on the proper migration of birds.
NIMBY (or Not In My Back Yard)
While some think today's windmills can be aesthetically pleasing, there are a great number who do not, particularly those who live around or near proposed projects. The NIMBY phenomenon usually emerges around proposed projects that have great social utility, however require that there be some people who "suffer" the affects of the project because of their close proximity, typically a close geographical/physical proximity. It is particularly present concerning the construction of windmills because they are only increasing in size and can be seen from a great distance (assuming good visibility anyway).
For example, someone who builds a lush home in a remote area, with the intent to have a wide-open view of pretty much nothing will employ the NIMBY tactic to hopefully prevent any windmill construction because windmills may taint that view that the homeowner values so much. He/she may agree that alternative energy is a worthwhile pursuit, just not in his/her backyard. This phenomenon is also widely seen in the construction of prisons and also extends into the category of environmental justice when the matter concerns something that in actuality ought not be located in someone's backyard.
Specific to Wisconsin, aside from the Horicon Marsh (which does have some NIMBY attributes aside from the wildlife arguments), it appears that there is not a terrible amount of NIMBYism Wisconsin, more so than would be present with any project proposal. In other words, Wisconsin does not stand out as a state either lacking in or greatly filled with NIMBY sentiment regarding the construction of windmills.
For example, someone who builds a lush home in a remote area, with the intent to have a wide-open view of pretty much nothing will employ the NIMBY tactic to hopefully prevent any windmill construction because windmills may taint that view that the homeowner values so much. He/she may agree that alternative energy is a worthwhile pursuit, just not in his/her backyard. This phenomenon is also widely seen in the construction of prisons and also extends into the category of environmental justice when the matter concerns something that in actuality ought not be located in someone's backyard.
Specific to Wisconsin, aside from the Horicon Marsh (which does have some NIMBY attributes aside from the wildlife arguments), it appears that there is not a terrible amount of NIMBYism Wisconsin, more so than would be present with any project proposal. In other words, Wisconsin does not stand out as a state either lacking in or greatly filled with NIMBY sentiment regarding the construction of windmills.
