MARSHFIELD – A plan to build wind turbines in the town of McMillan in Marathon County has ignited debate over farmland, local control and the future of rural Wisconsin.
Alliant Energy’s proposed Hub City Wind project could generate about 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 30,000 typical homes. But the project has also drawn sharp concerns from neighbors worried about property values, road damage and the changing rural landscape.
The project, still in early planning, could begin construction around 2029 if approved.
On July 14, residents, McMillan town officials and Alliant Energy representatives exchanged tough questions and answers. Among the most outspoken voices was Trine Spindler, a town of Day farmer and critic of the project.
“Why here?” Spindler asked. “Name another wind farm this close to so many homes; there isn’t one.”
Spindler and others say wind projects should be sited in areas with fewer homes, pointing to large wind farms in Iowa and Illinois. Critics argue the Hub City Wind proposal targets a more densely settled rural area, increasing potential conflicts between neighbors.
If built, the turbines could stand around 600 feet tall at the tip of a blade. Alliant Energy officials estimate each turbine’s foundation would require hundreds of truckloads of concrete and steel, plus access roads. At Monday’s meeting, residents pressed the company on how local roads – many with weight limits – could handle so much heavy equipment.
Alliant’s project team described standard road use agreements: hiring an outside engineering firm to inspect roads before and after construction, and providing money to the town for repairs.
“We’ll cover whatever agreed-upon repairs are needed,” said Eric Jensen, who works on Alliant’s construction team.
Some residents remained unconvinced. “Our roads aren’t built for this,” one said, warning the cost of repairs could outweigh payments to the town.
Wisconsin law gives the final decision on large wind farms to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Local governments can pass ordinances on noise, setbacks and road use, but if a project exceeds 100 megawatts, PSC review can override those local rules.
Spindler warned neighbors that state-level approval could leave them with little voice. “If it goes in front of the PSC, you can all forget it,” she said, citing past projects she claims were fast-tracked because of federal subsidies.
Alliant officials said the PSC process is thorough and includes environmental review and public comment, but acknowledged local ordinances could be limited.
Despite concerns, Hub City Wind could bring significant money into local budgets and farmland owners’ pockets.
Under Wisconsin’s utility shared revenue program, Marathon County and the affected towns could share about $500,000 annually if the project reaches 100 megawatts. That money would flow every year for 30 years, based on capacity rather than actual power produced.
Landowners hosting turbines could collectively receive around $1.5 million per year. And smaller landowners near turbines could sign “good neighbor” agreements for smaller payments.
“Love wind or hate wind, it’s a pretty hard rub to say it doesn’t help the local tax base,” said Ben Tanko, Alliant’s project manager. “The farmland stays in production, and towns get steady payments.”
But some residents questioned whether that money would cover real costs. Gravel road improvements can cost more than $100,000 per mile, and even small towns may need to fix several miles over the project’s life. Spindler also warned that some local farmers could lose state farmland preservation tax credits if turbines are built on their property.
Perhaps the hottest topic is what turbines might do to property values. Several residents cited studies showing property prices can drop between 12 and 47 percent near wind farms. Realtors at the meeting noted that even cell towers can reduce interest from buyers.
Tanko countered that national data shows little long-term effect, and that more money flowing into communities often lifts local economies. “I don’t doubt some buyers won’t want to live near turbines,” he said, but added that effects vary.
Noise is another flashpoint. State law limits wind turbine noise to 50 decibels during the day — about as loud as a running dishwasher — measured 1,250 feet from homes. Tanko said actual siting often pushes turbines farther back, to about 1,600 feet, to stay under that limit.
Residents also raised concerns about “infrasound,” the low-frequency vibration some blame for headaches or sleep disturbance. Alliant said more environmental and noise studies are planned, and stressed that turbine locations aren’t final until all studies are done.
One question came up again and again: Will Hub City Wind lower local electric bills? Alliant officials say no.
Because power flows into the larger regional transmission grid, residents won’t see direct discounts. “Rates don’t go down,” Tanko admitted. “The benefit is keeping rates from rising as fast, by reducing fuel costs.”
Opponents argued that local sacrifice deserves local savings, while supporters see renewable energy as a necessary statewide shift.
Hub City Wind is likely at least four years from construction. Alliant says it must first sign more landowners, complete studies and file a detailed application with the PSC.
In the meantime, Spindler and other residents plan to keep organizing, sharing information and urging neighbors to think carefully before signing leases.
“We need to talk to each other before this gets rubber-stamped,” Spindler said. “Once the turbines go up, they’re here for decades.”
For now, what’s clear is that Marathon County’s rural character — and its future energy mix — is up for debate, and the discussion is only just beginning.
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