PSC recommends wind turbine rules

MADISON - The state Public Service Commission is recommending new rules for where wind turbines can be placed.

The PSC’s recommendations, developed after public hearings in Fond du Lac, Tomah and Madison, are meant to standardize how local governments can regulate the placement, operation and decommissioning of projects less than 100 megawatts in generating capacity.

The rules include these provisions:

- The wind energy system owner must give notice to landowners within one mile of proposed wind turbine locations at least 90 days before filing an application.

- A local government can require wind energy systems to be placed and operated so they make no more than 45 decibels of noise at night and 50 decibels during the day, as measured from the outside walls of non-participating residences and occupied community buildings.

- A local government can require wind energy systems to be placed and operated so they create no more than 30 hours per year of shadow flicker for non-participating residences or occupied community buildings. If turbines cause more than 20 hours per year of shadow flicker, local leaders can require the system owner to install mitigation measures at their own expense.

- A local government can require a setback of at least 1.1 times the maximum blade tip height of a turbine for participating residences, non-participating property lines, public road rights-of-way and overhead lines. Setbacks of 3.1 times the maximum blade tip height can be required for non-participating residences and occupied community buildings.

- Local governments can require wind turbine owners to pay non-participating property owners within a half mile of a turbine site. Those payments cannot be more than 25 percent of the payments being made to participating property owners.

- A process for making complaints to local governments, which can be appealed to the PSC.

These recommendations must be approved by the Legislature before taking effect.