The Westby Wind Energy project, which has been in the works for over three years suffered a set back recently as Eco-Energy and WPPI try to solicit new backing for the project after a number of the major players were forced to scale back their investments due to the nationwide economic crisis.

According to Westby Public Works Director Gregg Hanson, Westby Utilities and it’s power supplier, WPPI Energy, have a vested interest in continuing to pursue and construct the proposed wind turbine project in the city of Westby, but stressful economic times have temporarily stalled the local project.

“Wind energy is one of the cleanest forms of electric power generation and it has the potential to generate a significant amount of energy for WPPI Energy member communities. Planning and rezoning conditional use permits have been secured for the project and even though project discussions are continuing, current economic conditions will play a large role in determining the projects next step,” Hanson said.

The initial Westby wind project involved the construction of three, 400 foot tall, wind generated turbines at a cost of $3-4 million dollars per unit, with construction of the wind turbines to begin in 2009-10. The 4.5 megawatt wind turbines would have been constructed on the west edge of the city, near the high school track field and the Westby Cooperative Creamery lagoons, on city property and land owned by Glen and Madeline Stalsberg, whose farm was earlier annexed into the city from the town of Christiana.

It was anticipated that the Westby wind turbine project would have generated wind energy equal to 50-percent of the cities annual energy consumption. Energy produced at the Westby site would have interconnected with grid through the substation on Black River Avenue. The wind energy produced would have been sold to the grid and helped to offset the growing cost of utilities for all WPPI costumers, including city of Westby residents.

A contract easement would have allowed developers to lease the property for 20 years, with a possible 10 year extension. As part of the easement agreement the city of Westby and the Stalsbergs would have been paid an annual rental fee and would not have been allowed to plant trees or construct buildings on the leased land, which might have interfered with the wind flow.

In April 2007, a 164-foot temporary wind measurement tower was constructed by EcoEnergy to test wind speeds, before the project was given a green light to move forward in 2008. Wind speeds recorded at the site were 15.0 mph, which according to project developers was adequate for the western part of the state and enough to move forward with the proposed project development.

EcoEnergy has many projects under development in Wisconsin, with the closest project in EcoGrove, near Lena. The large-scale EcoGrove project consists of 67 turbines and is near completion. Other ongoing EcoEnergy projects are under way in the communities of Kaukauna, Evansville and New Holstein, Calumet, Rock, Lafayette and Dane County.