Wind Power News: Michigan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Gilford Township Planning Commission approves special-use permit at contentious public hearing
REESE — A special-use permit to build additional wind turbines was approved Tuesday by the Gilford Township Planning Commission during a contentious public hearing that drew about 260 people to the Reese School District’s auditorium. The approval is for NextEra to look at eight sites to build five turbines and an anemometer. Three sites in Section 14 and three sites in Section 24 are being eyed for the additional turbines, and Section 17 for the anemometer. With those sites, the . . .
Planning Commission chair resigns following Gilford Township’s approval of more wind turbines
GILFORD TOWNSHIP, MI — A public hearing on a proposal to bring five more wind turbines to Tuscola County lasted almost five hours earlier this week, but officials finally reached a decision. “We had a lot of nays and yays — a lot of people saying good and bad things,” said Gilford Township Supervisor Jim Stockmeyer. “It was voted through, and they got the other five windmills.” The Gilford Township Planning Commission approved NextEra Energy’s request for a “special use . . .
Not a practical solution
This is in regard to the April 4 forum written by Mr. Chris Bzdok about the cost of industrial wind. Mr. Bzdok had quite a few cost estimates from various sources, some of which involved predictions of the future costs of electric power. Reading predictions of the future and cost estimates in Mr. Bzdok’s essay brought to mind the same sort of soothing but inaccurate cost analysis that led to the Grand Traverse septage plant fiasco. We don’t need cost . . .
Out of sight: Floating turbine technology could put offshore wind farms in middle of Great Lakes
MUSKEGON, MI – Out of sight is out of mind, offshore wind proponents hope. Two Michigan universities have joined forces with a Seattle-based design company to pursue offshore wind technology that could be a “game-changer” on the Great Lakes. Grand Valley State University and Michigan Technological University are in a group seeking federal funding for initial engineering and design of new floating-turbine technology. The floating technology has the potential of moving turbines to the middle of the lakes. The public-private . . .
DTE announcing fourth Thumb wind farm
UPPER THUMB — DTE Energy officials today were to announce the company’s plan for a fourth wind park in the Thumb. The development is being planned in Oliver and Chandler townships, which currently host the Harvest Wind I project and soon will be home to Harvest Wind II, both owned by the Exelon Corp. In the Harvest Wind I project, there are five turbines in Chandler Township and 27 in Oliver. Company officials previously indicated Harvest Wind II, which also . . .
Gilford OKs turbines, but that doesn’t suit some
REESE — Gilford Township officials issued a permit for five more wind turbines Tuesday night — bringing the total to 68 approved for construction there — following a contentious 4 1/2-hour public hearing that saw one spectator led away in handcuffs by a police officer for disorderly conduct. The Planning Commission in the township in northwest Tuscola County voted 3-0, with Chairman Dennis Richards and member Kent A. Houghtaling abstaining, to approve a special-use permit allowing Florida-based NextEra Energy to . . .
Proposed legislation keeps taxes on turbines
UPPER THUMB — A state lawmaker told the Tribune on Wednesday he plans to present proposed legislation to phase out personal property taxes on industrial equipment next week. But it will not include commercial wind turbines. “We are looking, in the legislation, (at) not giving relief to wind turbines on the personal property tax issue,” said Sen. Mike Nofs, a Battle Creek Republican. Last year, Nofs introduced legislation eliminating the personal property tax, which is the only tax revenue local . . .
Spanish wind-farm developer, Muskegon County preparing to execute lease minus Scandia
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – Gamesa Energy, a Spanish-based wind-farm developer and wind-turbine manufacturer, and Muskegon County appear ready to move forward with a plan to eventually construct a wind farm on the county’s massive wastewater site. Based on letter correspondence between Gamesa and the county, the delay on executing the proposed lease agreement is expected to end soon. The Muskegon County Board of Public Works, which approved the proposed lease agreement in October, has been waiting for Gamesa to sign . . .
Redo: Township held wind turbine review too early
GILFORD — Because of a technical “oversight,” a Gilford Township Planning Commission meeting to consider a special use permit for additional wind turbines will be re-held. “There is supposed to be a 30-day window to do a review from when the application is received and then acted on,” explained township Supervisor Jim Stockmeyer, noting the meeting was held on the 20th day. “We didn’t realize that until the meeting was under way. It was too soon so a decision couldn’t . . .
Wind farms create controversy in area
Those who attended Mark Steyn’s lecture in the Sports Complex on Tuesday night encountered something of a surprise: Standing out in front of the building, several neon-green-shirt-clad locals protested wind turbine development as Steyn’s audience filed into the Arena. He even spent the first few minutes of his speech talking about them. The protesors were affiliated with a group called the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition, Inc., which attempts to focus opposition to projects such as wind turbines. The organization was . . .
