An informational meeting Thursday night urged area residents to speak up about a proposed wind turbine project.
Pattern Energy argues the Upland Winds project will create jobs and diversify energy supply.
Opponents cite health and environmental concerns from noise and flickering lights, as well as aesthetics.
“You can’t sit back. We all have to participate. Everybody has a voice,” said Tim Stracka, Mineral Point Town Board supervisor.
The project includes 51 turbines in central and southern Iowa County and northern Lafayette County.
The town of Mineral Point has 21 potential locations for the turbines, which will be nearly 700 feet tall. The town of Waldwick could have up to 18 turbines.
“We can get involved in hearings at the Public Service Commission (PSC). We can bring in expert witnesses,” Stracka said. “It is a long process, but there a lot of ways the local township people can get involved.”
About 70 people attended the meeting, with two police officers present, at a Quality Inn event space. No one spoke in favor of the project.
Town board members said they wanted to show residents how close the turbines will be to their homes. An online map at no-uplands.com allows people to measure the distance.
They urged people to call state representatives to support Senate Bill 3, which would require local approval for wind and solar projects before PSC approval.
Chris Klopp of Cross Plains said people can contact the PSC by public comment on a docket at its website, emailing staff, calling, writing a letter, or filing a complaint online.
People can subscribe to a docket so they get an email when a document is added, she said.
Klopp said transmission lines are a “magnet” for turbines.
People can send comments to mptownwind@gmail.com.
The town will be an intervenor in the approval process, which could take a year. Stracka said the town will compile the complaints to file with the PSC.
“We need everyone to stand up and fight,” said Lisa Braley of Fayette. “We can still stop it.”
People should document their viewscape in all seasons and test their private wells, she said. Pattern representatives had agreed to attend the meeting but cancelled, town officials said. A Pattern spokesperson said they had a scheduling conflict.
“We’re sorry to miss this township meeting and understand the community’s interest in this project,” said Patrick Gehl, Pattern public engagement manager. “For six years, the Uplands team has worked openly and transparently with community members and local officials, exceeding Wisconsin state permitting requirements by hosting multiple public information sessions, providing project updates at dozens of municipal meetings, opening a dedicated project office in the county, and maintaining a project website where anyone can reach out with questions or comments. We remain encouraged by the questions and conversations we continue to have.”
A virtual public information session will be held Thursday, March 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at PatternVirtualMeetings.com.
“I only think it will be able to be stopped in the courts,” said Richard Jinkins of the town of Mifflin, who sits on the Wind Siting Council. “They’re going to out-expert you.
“People just don’t understand what’s going to happen. This is going to be an absolute disaster for southwestern Wisconsin,” Jinkins said. “People will get sick and have to leave their homes. A lot of the landowners who signed up have no clue.”
Pattern recently sent notices to impacted landowners, which means it will file its application to the PSC within 90 days.
“So many of my neighbors contracted with these turbines,” said Larry Regan of Mineral Point. “It’s going to make our lives pretty miserable. I don’t think people realize how visually awful it’s going to be. It’s going to ruin the landscape.”