Despite lag in Wisconsin wind energy, potential is high for takeoff

(PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE) – Wisconsin ranks 26th in the nation for wind energy, generating far less than neighboring states.

Wisconsin has about 900 megawatts of installed wind capacity, compared to neighbors that produce more than 10,000 megawatts.

Experts say better wind resources in neighboring states and lower solar costs enticing the state to invest in other projects contribute to the lag.

Wisconsin farms are also smaller than those in the Great Plains states, said Sam Dunaiski – executive director of Renew Wisconsin – which he called a unique challenge.

“You can’t just put two turbines right next to each other, right?” said Dunaiski. “The atmospheric dynamics requires a little bit more spacing in between turbines – and in order to do that, you know, you need a little bit more land.”

But Dunaiski said the state’s wind potential is high. Some Wisconsin utilities have already added wind options to their portfolios, and all have set goals to reduce carbon emissions.

At least a handful of wind energy projects are planned for Wisconsin in the coming year.

Another challenge is misinformation – that wind turbines are noisy, negatively affect property values, or pose health risks. Dunaiski said most of those claims are not supported by scientific evidence.

What has been proven, he said, is that wind energy is less harmful to wildlife and the environment than traditional power generation.

“We have the potential here to do our own energy, in our own state,” said Dunaiski, “to add great-paying jobs, like wind turbine technicians, to the mix. And we also give landowners kind of a lifeline in this aspect.”

He explained that farmers, who have been hit hard economically in recent years, could benefit from gaining an additional income stream by leasing land for these projects.

Dunaiski said building momentum will require more education and training, added transmission – to help get energy from rural areas where it’s produced to Wisconsin residents – and advances in technology to help update old equipment and capitalize on current installations.

“As we continue to grow these turbines and make this technology better and more efficient” said Dunaiski, “that wind resource – that lacking wind regime that we have in Wisconsin – becomes less of a problem, and we’re able to access what wind resources we do have in our state better.”

There are 10 wind projects generating electricity in Wisconsin. The oldest started in 1999 – and the newest, the Red Barn Project, started last year.

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This article originally appeared on Wisconsin News Connection, a division of Public News Service.