Bridgeport Township prepares zoning for potential wind farm
Bridgeport Township has taken the first step in luring wind energy developers.
Monday, the Planning Commission accepted a recommendation from the Wind Energy Sub-Committee to revise the township master land use plan to accommodate wind farms.
“Wind energy is an emerging technology which has taken a solid foothold in Michigan,” said Bruce Palmer, Bridgeport Township Zoning & Planning administrator, “and the future of renewable and sustainable energy is here now.”
The revisions address alternative energy resource developments including small-scale private projects.
Commissioners declined to specify a location they chose.
“There are three prerequisites that wind energy developers look for before considering developing commercial wind farm projects,” he said. “They are the availability of land, the location of electrical transmission lines and the available wind resources.”
Wind maps indicate average wind speeds of 15.7 to 16.8 mph in much of Saginaw County.
“Realizing there are no guarantees in attracting wind energy investment, the township still wants to take a proactive approach and let developers know they are welcome here,” Palmer said.
Landowners who lease areas of their land would receive royalty and lease payments, Palmer said.
“Over time, the income could be substantial,” he said.
The Planning Commission now must solicit input from leaders of neighboring townships and the Saginaw County Planning Commission.
Planning Commission members have asked residents to attend their board’s next meeting Monday, Feb. 23.
“This is about providing as much information as possible to make people aware that the future of renewable energy is now here,” Palmer said.
by LaNia Coleman | The Saginaw News
29 January 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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