Harnessing the wind
MATC considering wind turbines for its Fort Atkinson campus
Kim Ellingson,Clarion Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News
After making several presentations to the city's planning commission, the city council and throughout the community, Toepper said the project currently is in the process of developing an ordinance for the turbines. Fort Atkinson does not currently have an ordinance allowing structures as tall as the wind turbines within city limits.
Once the ordinance is developed, it will need to be adopted by the Planning Committee before it goes to the city council for final approval.
Once the proposal is approved, Brechlin said they hope to obtain pricing this summer, and have the foundations installed this fall. It's planned that the turbines will be installed shortly thereafter, but their installation might get pushed back to the winter because it takes about six months from the time a turbine is ordered until it is completed and delivered to the site.
The turbines will be in an open grassy area on the west side of the campus, which is located near the entrance of the city, and is next to the Fort Atkinson high school and several businesses. According to Fort Atkinson City Manager John Wilmet, there is still some hesitation from the City Council about the project, mainly because the turbines projected location is so close to the city entrance. However, Wilmet noted that the City of Fort Atkinson is supportive overall of the project, and that local groups such as Heart of the City have been "interceptive in bringing people up to speed with green energy."
"It's mainly an aesthetic issue," Toepper said. "Some people think wind turbines are unsightly, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion."
Toepper agreed that while there is still some reluctance about the proposal, most of the city's residents and local business are supportive of the project. He recently went door-to-door to residents and businesses close to the campus, and said all but one resident and two businesses were supportive.
"This project shows how progressive MATC is," Toepper said.
Once the ordinance is developed, it will need to be adopted by the Planning Committee before it goes to the city council for final approval.
Once the proposal is approved, Brechlin said they hope to obtain pricing this summer, and have the foundations installed this fall. It's planned that the turbines will be installed shortly thereafter, but their installation might get pushed back to the winter because it takes about six months from the time a turbine is ordered until it is completed and delivered to the site.
The turbines will be in an open grassy area on the west side of the campus, which is located near the entrance of the city, and is next to the Fort Atkinson high school and several businesses. According to Fort Atkinson City Manager John Wilmet, there is still some hesitation from the City Council about the project, mainly because the turbines projected location is so close to the city entrance. However, Wilmet noted that the City of Fort Atkinson is supportive overall of the project, and that local groups such as Heart of the City have been "interceptive in bringing people up to speed with green energy."
"It's mainly an aesthetic issue," Toepper said. "Some people think wind turbines are unsightly, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion."
Toepper agreed that while there is still some reluctance about the proposal, most of the city's residents and local business are supportive of the project. He recently went door-to-door to residents and businesses close to the campus, and said all but one resident and two businesses were supportive.
"This project shows how progressive MATC is," Toepper said.
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