By Kevin Lee     Wisconsin Reporter

MADISON  —  Local contractors seeking to build a new wave of wind energy sites are still holding their collective breath.

Gov. Scott Walker has put the brakes on legislation to push back the minimum distance between wind turbines and property lines, but a joint legislative committee may take up the matter on Wednesday.

Wes Slaymaker, who is helping to construct the Cashton Greens wind energy site in Monroe County, said Walker's legislation would have disrupted proposed projects preparing for construction.

"As (the proposal) was written, it was kind of a moratorium on wind (energy) in the state. So I guess there is still a bit of a cloud, but now the cloud has moved over to the edge of the horizon, it's not right over the top of our heads," he said.

As of now, a state rule that takes effect in March will establish that wind sites must be 1,250 feet away from property lines. Walker wanted to push that distance back to 1,800 feet, which energy wind advocates say would be among the most restrictive limits in the country.

The tougher siting restriction, one of the proposals the governor pushed as part of his special session to improve the state's economy, has not received a public committee hearing, a typical first step for new legislation.

"We'll pursue action with the Legislature outside of the special session," Walker said. "But again, I want to see the wind industry like any other industry be able to be effective here in the state of Wisconsin. I just want to find a way to balance that with the needs of individual property rights in the state as well."

Walker's nine other special session proposals have passed the Assembly, the Senate or both legislative chambers. Five proposals have already been signed into law, including one Walker signed on Friday that provides tax deductions to businesses for each new job they create.

The governor indicated that he may go through the administrative rules process to change the rule that provides siting restrictions for wind sites.

State Rep. Andre Jacque, R-Bellevue, was the Assembly sponsor of the governor's original proposal. He said under the current rule, landowners could allow turbines within the 1,250 feet setback distance, while neighboring landowners had to deal with the repercussions.

"The rule as it is written is playing properties owners against each other," Jacque said.

Michael Vickerman, executive director of clean energy policy group Renew Wisconsin, said changing the rule that governs wind siting would discourage wind energy groups from bringing their business to Wisconsin.

"It's a terrible signal to send to an emerging wind energy industry, to (first) pass legislation and establish the rule to bring developers in and then yanking it from under their feet," he said.

The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules will hold a public hearing Wednesday to discuss the state rule, PSC 128.