Stratford resident asks board to pass wind/solar ordinance

A Stratford resident last week urged the village board to consider adopting an ordinance to “prevent the development of wind and solar projects in our area,” citing concerns for public health and safety.

With at least three different energy companies looking to establish wind farms in neighboring townships, resident Tricia Golbach said the village could be surrounded by massive turbines with bases composed of “concrete, rebar, resin and possibly even shredded fiberglass from previously used turbines.”

“This is a recipe for disaster for our groundwater,” she said. “Solar projects have their own nightmares, with the possibility of chemicals leaching as panels age and broken plastic covering the landscape in the event of a tornado.”

Proposed wind projects in the Stratford area include Hub City Wind, proposed by Madison-based Alliant Energy for the towns of Cleveland, McMillan, Day, Eau Pleine and Green Valley. The company’s plans call for erecting up to 25 turbines that would each be 600 feet tall with 250-foot blades.

Other proposed wind project include Marathon Wind in the towns of Eau Pleine and Brighton, proposed by EDP Renewables, and Stonemark, proposed by Chicago-based Invenergy for eastern Marathon County and western Clark County.

Golbach also expressed concerns about lithium ion battery storage facilities, which she called “extremely dangerous.”

“Firefighters across the country are still trying to find ways to put out fires in Teslas and other electric vehicles in a safe and fast manner,” she said.

In addition to presenting a sample ordinance adopted by the town of Day, Golbach also asked the board to consider further protections for village residents who live near rural townships.

“As a final request, we ask the board to extend the area of these ordinances by using extra- territorial zoning,” she said. “This would protect unincorporated areas, as well as residents living on the edge of village limits who would be subject to the decisions of the neighboring townships if they are unable to prevent wind and solar construction from proceeding.”

Golbach warned that the prospect of wind and solar projects taking hold in the area “has caused people to consider relocating,” and it could negatively impact property values.

“Once these turbines, lithium storage buildings and acres of solar panels are constructed, there is no going back,” she said.

Because the comments were made during public comment, the board did not take any action at last week’s meeting.

At an open house in May, representatives of Alliant Energy said the Hub City project will generate at least 100 megawatts of electricity and provide a total of $500,000 per year in revenue for Marathon County and five rural townships.