Monday, September 13, 2010—Our survey asking people about the possibility of a wind farm on Lake Michigan definitely struck a nerve, sparking more than 2,140 responses and several calls and e-mails.

To become a better consumer advocate, CUB periodically sends out short surveys on hot-button issues that impact Illinois utility customers.

Offshore wind farms are being considered for Lake Erie, Cape Cod, and Lake Michigan, about eight miles off of Evanston's shoreline. Out of the 2,142 people who responded by the Friday, Sept. 10, deadline, about 70 percent said yes to the general idea of building wind turbines on Lake Michigan. Another 15 percent said yes, as long as the wind turbines weren't visible from the shore.

But some people weren't so blown away by this windy idea. About 5 percent said no, because the project would cost too much, and another 5 percent said it would be an eyesore.

Several people complained that the reasons CUB presented for saying "no" to the idea were too limited, one man even called the survey "flawed." For example, critics said the survey didn't mention concern for the Lake Michigan environment or the potential impact on bird populations.

On the other hand, a proponent complained that the random photo CUB used to depict an offshore wind farm (shown here) could be misleading, portraying the turbines as too big. The turbines wouldn't always be visible from shoreline, and they would look smaller than in the photo, he argued.

But the most interesting response came from a man who e-mailed CUB wondering if "a little creativity in the paint job" could be employed if the turbines ever get built. "They would be a giant art mobile," he wrote.

Regardless of where people stand in the debate, most everyone agrees that energy efficiency can cut power bills. That's why respondents were sent to CUB Energy Saver, a free online service that has been showing Illinois families how to build a money-saving plan for their homes and cut utility costs by about $200 a year, on average.

Also, John Fisher, of Chicago, won up to $150 in free electricity in a drawing among survey participants. "We need watchdogs like you," the longtime CUB member said. "I'm all for you guys."