Neighbors to wind farm say turbines causing health effects
By: Caroline Rowland
Updated: July 8, 2012
TOWN OF MORRISSON, Wis. (WFRV)-- Controversy is blowing through one local town over wind turbines.
It's happening in the outlying parts of De Pere, People are complaining of health issues caused by the turbines, Some so bad, they've forced people out of their homes.
In 2005, Darryl and Sarah Cappelle purchased their dream home in the town of Morrison, near south De Pere, in Brown County.
"It was exactly what we wanted, a large yard, trees," said Darryl.
Everything was perfect, that was until late 2010, when a wind turbine was built right across the street, and seven more throughout their neighborhood.
"It started with audible noise in the house, and then shadows in the morning on the house would cause the whole house to flicker they call it," said Darryl.
Sarah says she became sick soon after the wind turbines went up.
"I was having ear pain, headaches, insomnia, my body was quivering all the time."
This April it became too much to bear, so the couple and their two young boys moved out.
"We don't' believe it's safe for our kid," said Darryl.
"This is very hard on our family to be forced out," said Sarah.
The Cappelle's are one of three families in the neighborhood who have left their homes because of problems with the wind turbines.
About 30 people from the neighborhood joined senator Frank Lasee at a nearby park to discuss their concerns over the turbines.
"This area of Wisconsin is too densely populated to be a real good choice for these industrial wind tower," said Senator Lasee,
Lasee tried to pass legislation last year to put tougher restrictions on where turbines could be built. It failed, 17-16.
The current regulation allows them to be built 1250 feet from a home.
"I think they are too close to people's homes, I think we should stop using them," Lasee.
On Wednesday Senator Lasee is going to the Public Service Commission, which regulates wind turbines for the state. He's bringing more than a thousand pages of what he says is proof the turbines are causing harm. He said the proof is from studies come from across the United States.
The PSC has in the past determined there was not enough evidence to prove that wind turbines can cause health problems.
Local Five reached out to the firm that runs the Shirley wind farm, Nordex and was unsuccessful.
They project runs eight of the 10 turbines currently operating in Brown County.
