| To the Addison Town Board:
The following resolution in support of FPL Energy’s Wisconsin Wind Project was adopted unanimously by the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club’s John Muir Chapter on December 4, 1999. There are approximately 10,000 Sierra Club members residing in Wisconsin.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the responsible development of locally available renewable power sources is extremely important to the economic and environmental well-being of Wisconsin citizens.
WHEREAS, FPL Energy proposes to erect a 29.7 MW windpower plant, consisting of 33 900-kW turbines atop 70-meter towers, in the Town of Addison in Washington County;
WHEREAS, the Public Service Commission declared in 1992 that “increasing the use of renewable resources to generate power in Wisconsin is in the public interest.” (Advance Plan 6 Order)
WHEREAS, Wisconsin enacted an energy policy law in 1994, which states: “It is the goal of the state that, to the extent that it is cost-effective and technically feasible, all new capacity for electric generation in the state be based on renewable resources, including ... wind.” Wis. Stats. 1.12(3)(b).
WHEREAS, in response to electricity shortages that occurred in the summer of 1997 (caused by several nuclear outages in Wisconsin and Illinois), Wisconsin enacted the Electric Reliability Act in spring 1998, which was aimed in part to encourage the construction of new and cleaner generating facilities in Wisconsin. (Legislative Reference Bureau, Brief 98-7)
WHEREAS, the Electric Reliability Act of 1998 also required eastern Wisconsin utilities to add or procure 50 MW of new renewable generating capacity to their systems by December 31, 2000. Section 196.377(2).
WHEREAS, this wind energy installation would provide renewable power to Wisconsin Electric Power and Alliant Energy, enabling them to satisfy the renewable mandate in full.
WHEREAS, this wind energy installation would be situated in working farms that are threatened by low-density residential sprawl moving north through Washington County;
WHEREAS, this wind energy installation would provide a supplemental income source to those landowners who lease their property for wind energy development, thereby helping them to keep their farms in the family;
WHEREAS, a portion of the revenues generated over the course of this 25-year project would be remain in the Town in Addison, which could be used to expand services or reduce property taxes;
WHEREAS, FPL Energy’s windpower proposal was selected through a competitive bidding process and has passed every environmental review to date;
WHEREAS, wind is an inexhaustible resource fueled by the sun’s energy;
WHEREAS, windpower production is a clean technology that produces no air and solid emissions, nor any hazardous waste;
WHEREAS, wind generation captures a locally available energy resource, which provides reinforcement to the statewide grid and enhances system reliability;
WHEREAS, demand for electricity in Wisconsin, fueled by a growing economy, has increased by 20% since 1990, requiring significant investments in generating capacity in order to meet present and projected load growth;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sierra Club’s John Muir Chapter supports FPL Energy’s windpower proposal and urges the Town of Addison Board in the county of Washington to grant the necessary approvals allowing construction of this project to proceed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Addison Town Board.
Passed this 4th day of December 1999
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