GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Two local county leaders are teaming up in order to urge state lawmakers to get more involved in the wind turbine health issue.
Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Kewaunee County Chair Ron Heuer are getting their respective boards to sign onto a letter, which will be sent to legislators.
“Our objective here was to basically ask state legislators to do one of two things, to fund a study or allow for local control to be brought back to the local authority for wind farm siting,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “That way it allows the communities that are impacted by this to have better local control.”
Streckenbach expected the letter to be signed, sealed and ready to send on Friday. He says there’s a reason they decided to partner in this effort.
“We realize that if we do this together, perhaps we can get more of a statewide recognition,” said Streckenbach. “There are things happening, and to get the state involved is what we’re trying to pursue here.”
According to the letter, “Even Governor Scott Walker understood the issue and included $250,000 in his 2015-17 Budget Proposal for the PSC to study health issues related to wind energy systems. If you are unwilling to help address this issue prior to your adjournment, we request that your reinstate local control in wind farm siting so local governments are able to protect area residents until a final determination can be made regarding the health effects on residents in Wisconsin living near wind farms.”
BROWN COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR REACTION
Last month, Brown County Health Director Chua Xiong announced that scientific evidence clearly linking wind turbines in areas like Glenmore and Morrison to things like sleeplessness, nausea and irritability just isn’t there.
Just last week, residents again spoke out at a Brown County Board of Health meeting pleading for some action on the issue tied to the Shirley Wind Farm.
When asked about the ongoing controversy, Streckenbach replied.
“Obviously the director is the only individual authorized by statute to make that determination,” said Streckenbach. “It was squarely based on scientific evidence from literature that she was presented to review, so ultimately she is the only person that can make that determination. It’s ultimately what it is.”
Streckenbach was then asked if he supported Xiong’s decision.
“I support the director,” he answered.
Xiong is scheduled to appear before the Brown County Human Services Committee on January 27 to discuss this issue further and some people hope that she’ll explain the reasoning for the decision not to order a shutdown of the Shirley Wind Farm.
