WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Frustration surfaced quickly during a Hub City Wind Farm public forum in Wausau, Wednesday, after attendees learned the meeting would include small-group discussions rather than a traditional public comment format.
With a filled room, the atmosphere grew tense as participants discovered they would be divided into breakout groups to collect feedback for the county board rather than addressing the assembly directly.
“I came here tonight to a public forum to speak what I want to speak,” one resident said. “I did not come here to work toward the goal of a joint agreement that I disagree with.”
Tom Wilcox, the executive director of Farmland First, attended the event to explain his organization’s opposition to the proposal. He wants to educate the public on what he sees as dangers of the project.
“I think we’ve been taught as children that green is good,” Wilcox said. “And I think we need to dig a little deeper in that and look at the total picture. We’re taking farm land away for something that’s not really that helpful to us.”
According to Alliant Energy’s website, the project will contribute to the Wisconsin Shared Utility Revenue Program, which results in up to $5,000 per megawatt for the life of the project. That money would be split between the hosting county and towns.
No representatives from Alliant Energy were at the meeting. Residents will have another opportunity to engage with the project June 25 when the committee meets in the Assembly Room at the Marathon County Courthouse.
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