Wisconsin's path to a greener energy future is anything but a breeze.
In 2008, Wisconsin witnessed both the windfall of economic promise and blowback, as the growing wind industry experienced growing pains.
By many accounts it was a banner year for the state. Record development of wind power took place, with the opening of four large wind-power projects by companies including We Energies, Invenergy and Wisconsin Power & Light Co.
Eight times as much wind power is being generated today as there was a little more than a year ago. But electricity from the wind still accounts for only about 5% of the state's power supply.
Hurdles to growth have been many, including:
• Stalled projects. More than a dozen wind projects around the state have been slowed by local opposition, wind industry advocates say.
Wisconsin has faced more challenges from local opponents in part because the windy parts of the state - such as the Fox River Valley - are more densely populated than southwestern Minnesota and Iowa, where the Great Plains winds are sending a gust of investment in new wind projects. During a public hearing last month, homeowners upset about wind-power projects testified in Madison about problems caused by turbines.
But wind developers say local ordinances around the state are blocking hundreds of megawatts of projects from being built, sending investment to other states. Several wind companies based in Wisconsin are now working on projects exclusively out of state because of restrictive local ordinances that at times require setbacks of a mile or more from a wind turbine.
"That just outlaws windmills. That's what it does," said Rep. Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay), head of the state Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee.
• Budget cuts. Even as the state is trying to restore its standing with wind developers, the state is cutting back on funding for renewable energy.
Vickerman, of Renew Wisconsin: "I don't see much likelihood of utilities or developers hanging around Wisconsin in a couple years, if we don't put our permitting house in order."
Read full by Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel
