Alliant to increase rates 13.8%

OK, so Alliant Energy is proposing a 13.8% rate increase (see link to article at end of post) saying that it's due to the cost of green energy and their 200 megawatt wind farm.  Does anyone else have a problem with this?  I mean, I thought that these wind turbines would pay for themselves over the course of 10 years or something like that...and it's not like they have to pay for the source of the energy...the wind is free.  I understand that a certain amount of maintenance needs to be factored in and everything, but I don't understand how they can charge a huge premium that will undoubtedly be a permanent rate increase.  To me, it sounds like someone is lining their pockets at our expense.  And all of this comes right on the heels of an 8% increase that was put in recently for flood recovery.  The only positive that I can see in all of this is that they are making going off the grid a more compelling option.
http://gazetteonline.com/local-news...e-increase
--AJ

 

Yeah, I've heard that from others too.  The technology is improving and getting cheaper, but not quite there for a single household.  Other options are becoming available like shingles that are actually solar panels creating electricity...not heating water; and durable enough to withstand harsh conditions.  It seems like geothermal has really taken off if you have the space for it...and new techniques are requiring less space than ever (stacking the coils vertically instead of laying them out over a large area).  Don't get me wrong, I'm not against green energy, it's great and the way we should go to save our environment; I just have a problem with Alliant sticking the customers with the bill when the devices themselves should give full ROI over time.  You can bet they won't start reducing the rates when the wind turbines have paid themselves off.  It's quite the racket.
--AJ