Board approves Town of Wausau plan amendment after discussion of wind/solar overlay and local concerns

Marathon County Board of Supervisors — The Marathon County Board on July 22 approved the Town of Wausau’s comprehensive plan amendment (Resolution 43-25) that updates the town’s industrial wind and solar overlay map.

Supervisor Kathy Sandalski spoke against the amendment, citing environmental and public-health concerns. She referenced a Buffalo News article reporting on a NYSERDA study and said the study found wind-turbine components shed plastics and other materials into soil and water. "These wind turbines are constructed of mic microplastics, fiberglass, and epoxy, and other chemicals, which as they spin, it was found these turbines shed the materials into the soil," Sandalski said. She added that studies she cited reported "an average of a 137 pounds of material are shedded from each term and annually," and raised concerns about bearing failures, lubricant leaks and where electricity generated would be routed.

Board members proceeded to a vote after brief discussion. Supervisor Hartinger recorded a "no" vote; the motion carried.

County discussion and votes on local comprehensive plan amendments are part of the statutory review process for town plans and maps. The transcript shows the amendment passed; it does not record staff analysis in detail in the excerpted discussion. The matters Sandalski raised were presented as the supervisor’s rationale for opposing the amendment and were attributed to articles and studies she cited. The board did not adopt additional restrictions or conditions in the course of the vote recorded in the transcript.

Because the concerns Sandalski raised cite external reporting and a study, county staff or independent experts would be the appropriate parties to confirm technical or health claims before policy action; the board adopted the amendment during the meeting.