911, THE LATEST WIND POPPYCOCK

Opposition group fears wind farm in southern Brown County may interfere with 911 radio towers
Scott Williams, March 1, 2010 (Green Bay Press Gazette)

"Opponents of a proposed wind farm in southern Brown County are urging county officials to consider whether the project might interfere with emergency radio communications…

"The [100 wind turbine wind farm proposal for the towns of Morrison, Holland, Wrightstown and Glenmore] comes as county officials are preparing to upgrade their 911 radio system, including relocating about a dozen radio towers countywide…[to allow] emergency dispatchers to communicate with police, fire and ambulance crews while responding to 911 calls from the general public."

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"Jim Nickel, director of public safety communications for the county, said he doesn't think the wind farm will cause interference as long as its 400-foot-tall wind turbines are about a half-mile from any 911 radio tower…[H]e thinks only one or two wind turbines would have to be repositioned…

"Invenergy LLC is seeking state approval to build [Ledge Wind Energy Park,] Brown County's first major commercial wind farm…[It will] generate enough electricity to power 40,000 homes…Invenergy spokesman Kevin Parzyck said he was not aware of any wind farm ever causing interference with emergency radio transmissions…Invenergy considered radio tower locations when developing the Brown County wind farm plan…[and is] talking with the county about whatever is needed to accommodate the retooled radio system…"

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"Proponents of the wind farm say the project would promote alternative energy usage and bring economic development to the area. But critics contend that the turbines would jeopardize public health and safety…An opposition group known as Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy plans to address the radio tower issue…before the County Board Public Safety Committee.

"Supervisor Bill Clancy, a member of the Public Safety Committee who also is the Holland town clerk, said he raised the issue at the request of wind farm opponents…Clancy said that although he is not taking a stand on the wind farm proposal, he agrees that any potential conflict with 911 radio communications should be dealt with…"