Assembly votes to create standards for siting high-tech windmills

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The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill that orders statewide standards for locating high-tech windmills.

The vote Wednesday was 65-31 in favor, after the Senate had passed it Tuesday.

The bill now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle, whose office says he supports it.

The Public Service Commission would draft the rules for locating new wind energy farms.

There are already state rules for larger projects. But the bill’s supporters say it’s become impossible to build smaller wind farms, because local rules have made them too restrictive.

Opponents say the bill ignores concerns about the health and quality of life of those living near wind farms and they say the promises of new jobs with the additional wind farms are overblown.

Tags: statewide standards, wisconsin, windmills