August 14, 2010
Michigan

Lake Michigan wind plan rejected in Oceana Co.

WPBN TV 7&4, www.upnorthlive.com 12 August 2010

The Oceana County Board of Commissioners follows suit and rejects a planned wind farm in Lake Michigan.

The Oceana County Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 Thursday to agree with the Planning Commission’s recommendation to reject Scandia’s proposal to build a wind farm off of Oceana County in Lake Michigan.

The vote comes one week after the Oceana Planning Commission adopted a resolution against the Scandia proposal, recommending the Oceana County’s Board of Commissioners reject the proposal.

The Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition (LMPC) has been urging rejection of Scandia’s proposal since forming in January due to several factors, including distance from shore, lack of company experience and pushing forward before Michigan’s regulatory process has been created. LMPC is not supportive of the industrialization of Lake Michigan.

“We are pleased with the Oceana Board of Commissioner’s decision to reject Scandia’s proposal,” said Jeff Hoenle, president of the LMPC. “This community has shown they are not interested in this proposal. Coupled with Mason County’s similar decision and vote in June, it is now time for Scandia to keep their word and abandon plans for any development in this area.”

Scandia Wind’s Aegir Project originally consisted of 200 turbine generators in a 100-square mile area of Lake Michigan between Silver Lake State Park and Ludington. Updated proposals from the foreign company have split the project in half, moving part of the project to the near shore of Grand Haven and Muskegon.

After Mason County rejected Scandia’s proposal on June 8, Scandia condensed plans for the northern half of its project to Oceana County.

Scandia has maintained that if Oceana County voted against their proposal, plans would be abandoned.

“The Northern portion of Scandia’s proposal has been defeated and now it’s time to focus on protecting Lake Michigan near Grand Haven and Muskegon,” Hoenle said. “Our coalition represents a broad base of concerned residents and our concerns need to be heard. We urge Ottawa and Muskegon to follow the lead of Oceana and Mason counties and reject Scandia’s proposal.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/14/lake-michigan-wind-plan-rejected-in-oceana-co/