Bill Lets Homeowners Sue Over Windfarms

Home owners living near wind turbines could soon be able to sue the owners. A bill from state Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) would allow families living within a mile-and-a-half of industrial wind turbines to sue the owners of the devices or the property they are located on for physical, emotional or financial damages. Lasee says it’s a major issue for those living near current developments, who have sometimes been driven from their homes. Lasee has long been a critic of wind farms and a firm believer in arguments that they can cause negative health effects. Supporters of wind energy say there’s no scientific evidence to support those claims, but the De Pere Republican says the courts should be allowed to weigh in on the issue. The bill would allow a lawsuit to be filed even if a wind farm development was legally approved.