Public hearing planned for turbine setbacks, noise limits

LANSING — Officials announced last week that the Michigan Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing later this month to garner public comment on the effect of wind turbine setback requirements and noise limitations under local zoning or other ordinances on wind energy development in wind energy resource zones.

The hearing is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23 at the MPSC’s office, located at 6545 Mercantile Way in Lansing, with satellite locations in Bad Axe and Traverse City participating electronically, according to a release the MPSC issued Thursday. The satellite locations will be at the Huron Area Technical Center, located at 1160 S. Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe, and at the University Center at the Boardman Lake Campus of Northwestern Michigan College, located at 2200 Dendrinos Dr. in Traverse City.

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While the three sites include handicapped parking, individuals who need accommodation to participate in the hearings should call the MPSC’s executive secretary at (517) 241-6160 at least one week in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.

The public is invited to submit written comments during those hearings, either at the MPSC’s office in Lansing or at the satellite locations in Bad Axe and Traverse City.

Interested persons also can submit written and electronic comments to the MPSC no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 11. Written comments should be sent to: Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 30221, Lansing, MI 48909.

Electronic comments can be e-mailed to mpscedockets@michigan.gov.

All comments should reference Case No. U-15899. The MPSC notes all information submitted to the commission in this matter will become public information, available on the Commission’s Web site, and subject to disclosure.

The public hearing is part of the process that’s come about after Public Act 295 of 2008, also known as the Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act, was passed. The act requires the MPSC to submit a report to the Michigan Legislature on the effect that setback requirements and noise limitations under local zoning or other ordinances may have on wind energy development in wind energy resource zones. Prior to submitting the report, the act requires the MPSC to hold public hearings.

Prior to issuing a final report, the MPSC has been charged with reviewing recommendations made by the Michigan Wind Energy Resource Zone Board in a final report issued Oct. 15. All of the wind board’s recommendations are available for public review online at www.michigan.gov/windboard.

That report identified four regions the board recommends as having the highest wind energy development potential. Region 4, which the wind board identified as having the highest potential, is the Thumb region.

In addition to submitting a report on the effect of setback requirements and noise limitations, PA 295 of 2008 also charges the MPSC with designating one or more areas of the state as a wind energy zone. The act requires the MPSC to ensure that the designation of a zone does not represent an unreasonable threat to the public convenience, health or safety, and that any adverse impacts on private property are minimal.

The law also states that any zone designated by the MPSC must also exclude property zoned residential, unless the land is subsequently re-zoned as nonresidential.

By Kate Hessling
Tribune Staff Writer

Huron Daily Tribune

www.michigansthumb.com

2 November 2009

Tags: Wind power, Wind energy

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