Posted Dec. 17, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
Every time that subsidies for wind energy have ceased, the industry went into a tailspin. The industry had a near-miss this year because the wind energy production tax credit almost died.The PTC may die at the end of this year. If it does, any project in Boone County will not receive the subsidy. Wind energy receives a subsidy that is worth approximately 88 times as much as conventional sources receive. To quote someone else: "no form of fossil generation has a production-related subsidy. Rather, tax credits granted fossil fuels are akin to those available to any industry involved in mining and mineral extraction. The generation side does not receive any subsidy."The current setback in Boone County is 1,000 feet from primary structures. That is wholly inadequate compared to increasingly larger setbacks in Illinois counties that already have wind turbines. Last year, Bureau County rejected more wind turbines. The company that proposed those wind turbines is the same company that wants to site wind turbines in Boone County.Wisconsin State Senator Frank Lasee recently testified that new wind turbine heights may exceed 700 feet. A Wisconsin resident testified that one company switched out shorter with taller wind turbines to get around the setback.— Aaron Funfsinn, Durand
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