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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Forwarded by Randi Doeker<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>From the email newsletter
distributed by Swarovski<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>THE HORICON MARSH WIND-POWER SITUATION<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>On another power issue, Americans will increasingly be faced with the
option of wind-power, especially as the price of electricity generated by
wind-turbines decreases and the spread of wind-farms increases. The growth of
wind-power is potentially very beneficial since clean, renewable, energy is
both attractive and desirable, especially in light of our ongoing dependence on
troublesome fossil fuels. Unfortunately, much remains unknown about the impact
of wind-power on wildlife, especially birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'> A proposed wind energy generating facility in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place></st1:State> has especially drawn recent
notice. This proposal entails 133 wind turbines located in a project area of
32,400 acres near <st1:City w:st="on">Brownsville</st1:City>, in Dodge and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Fond du Lac</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Counties</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Horicon National Wildlife
Refuge is located approximately 1.2 miles west of the project area boundary, and
the entire system - both the refuge and the adjacent state-managed Horicon
Marsh State Wildlife Area - has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland of
International Importance and deserves special conservation attention.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>While the initial proposal by Forward Energy called for the
location of wind-power units to be approximately 4 miles from the refuge, the
plan then doubled the number of proposed turbines and would locate them closer
- within 1.2 miles. Such a shift could potentially increase wildlife impacts. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>In a 1999 study done for the Wisconsin DNR, it was stated that bird
activity is much reduced at distances of 8 kilometers (approximately 5<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>miles) of the edge of Horicon Marsh, and that the placement of
"generators at distances 8km or greater will have significantly lower
impacts than generators closer to the marsh." Unfortunately, the most
current proposed turbine placement by Forward runs counter to this
recommendation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>While the total elimination of avian mortality is impossible even
under the best of circumstances, concern for some species is particularly
troubling.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>For example, Sandhill Cranes at Horicon not only use the marsh
itself, but also surrounding farmland for feeding and assembling. Concern for
this operating buffer is vital since hundreds of Sandhill Cranes use some of
the same fields in the fall where turbines are now planned. It is unknown how
the cranes will adjust, if at all.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>At the end of April, a three-mile-radius turbine ban was barely
approved by the Dodge County Planning, Development, and Parks Committee, but
the state Public Service Commission could override the county committee's
decision.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>The Horicon scene may prove to be an important case in determining
future guidelines for the siting of wind farms - and what should be clearly
avoided - in the area of wind-power proximity to refuges. The whole issue
merits continued and watchful scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
color:navy'>For more information see:<u>http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/news/archive/local_20794531.shtml</u><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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