Manitowoc County Board votes against wind turbine moratorium

From an article by Sarah Kloepping in the Manitowoc Herald Tribune:

MANITOWOC — The Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted against creating a moratorium on large wind turbines in the county.

The motion for the moratorium, which would have temporarily prevented construction of turbines with a capacity of more than 100 kilowatts, failed 14-8, with two supervisors absent and board chairman Paul Tittl abstaining because he owns stock in Broadwind Energy.

The ordinance was brought forward after the towns of Cooperstown, Mishicot and Two Creeks submitted petitions requesting the county enact a moratorium to allow time for the state Public Service Commission to establish statewide rules on the installation and use of wind energy systems or for a period of one year, whichever came first. . . .

Supervisor Paul Hansen said while he understands health concerns, he didn't support the moratorium because he wants to see the scientific evidence about the effects of wind turbines to make a decision.

"There are health concerns for every type of energy we currently produce in this country," he said. "There are concerns with coal plants. There is concern with gas and oil. There are nuclear concerns. We live on a planet where we make a judgment whether or not to accept that risk."