By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

EVANSVILLE -- EcoEnergy is looking for a few good acres to erect a wind energy facility.

Officials at EcoEnergy LLC, a division of the Morse Group, hope to lease farmland from one or more landowners in Union Township in Rock County.

The company plans to erect three turbines in Union Township. The energy produced will then be sold to Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI), according to Curt Bjurlin, EcoEnergy Wisconsin project developer.

WPPI is a member-owned power company, providing electricity and related services to Wisconsin municipal utilities including Evansville.

The proposed 4.5-megawatt wind project would use the power generated to power the Evansville municipal water and light utility. The turbines will supply roughly 16 percent of Evansville's power needs.

Bjurlin said that WPPI hopes to erect wind energy facilities at four Wisconsin communities -- Evansville, New Holstein, Westby and Kaukauna.

Bjurlin explained that the three turbines proposed for Evansville will produce 4 million kilowatt hours per year, enough to supply 300 to 500 homes.

Once the initial costs of building and erecting the turbines are recaptured, Bjurlin said that wind energy facilities are very cost stable as opposed to a coal plant producing electricity.

Although the turbines don't use up very much land, they are 397 feet high. Generally each wind turbine needs half an acre so the turbines do not interfere with each other. EcoEnergy will also need an access road in order to conduct services.

"We usually locate them along field boundaries," Bjurlin said.

EcoEnergy held an open house Monday at J.C. McKenna Middle School in Evansville to educate residents about wind energy. As the process moves forward, more educational sessions will be held.

Bjurlin stressed that farming can still continue on land with a wind turbine. EcoEnergy will, however, want to know what direction farmers plow their crops and what access roads are on the property.

"We will go through that process with landowners identify where would be most suitable," Bjurlin said.

Although modern wind turbines are relatively quiet, Bjurlin said they are noticeable.

That's a good thing, according to Bjurlin.

"They are a good reminder that there is a brighter future ahead of us," Bjurlin said. "Renewable energy is a big change that's needed right now. We have an extremely difficult time ahead of us in the way we produce energy."

Bjurlin stressed the Evansville project is separate from the 67-turbine wind energy facility proposed for Magnolia Township.

EcoEnergy is one of the companies held within the Morse Group. Based in Freeport, Ill., the Morse Group is a privately held company owned by the Don Morse family. The Morse Group started out as primarily electrical contractors but now includes various electrical, construction and energy companies. Morse Group is $100 million a year company and has been in business for more than 60 years.

For more information on EcoEnergy and wind energy facilities call (888)826-1538 or visit the company's Web site at www.ecoenergyllc.com.