County officials in northeastern Wisconsin are teaming up to urge state lawmakers to get more involved in efforts to investigation the impact wind turbines have on the health of those living near them.

Some residents living near wind farms claim the noise and shadows produced by the turbines have had a negative impact on their health, with symptoms that include nausea, headaches, and difficulty sleeping.

Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Kewaunee County Chair Ron Heuer are getting their respective boards to sign onto a letter, which will be sent to legislators. “Our objective here was to basically ask state legislators to do one of two things, to fund a study or allow for local control to be brought back to the local authority for wind farm siting,” said Streckenbach. “That way it allows the communities that are impacted by this to have better local control.”

Streckenbach said the two counties decided to work together on the issue in the hopes of bringing more attention to their concerns. “We realize that if we do this together, perhaps we can get more of a statewide recognition,” said Streckenbach. “There are things happening, and to get the state involved is what we’re trying to pursue here.”

Contributed by WTAQ