September 28, 2010
Michigan

Saugatuck Township discussing vote on wind farm ordinance

By Steve Patterson WZZM, www.wzzm13.com 27 September 2010

The Holland Board of Public Works wants to bring wind energy to West Michigan and they say the best spots to generate that are on the Lakeshore.

Saugatuck Township is being cited as a prime location for wind turbine developments.

Monday the township’s planning commission will consider an ordinance regulating wind power.

“We knew that we didn’t have sufficient regulation for [introducing wind farms],” said Township Planning Chairman Larry Edris. “So as a preemptive move, we decided to adopt a wind energy ordinance.”

Edris says Monday’s meeting is the final piece of the ordinance before a final vote. The board is trying to determine whether to allow the Turbines to be more than 300 ft., a current city regulation for similar structures.

The Holland BPW is partnering with SWMI Wind Energy Development in Grandville. The developer has designated 3,000 acres in Ganges and Saugatuck Township for leasing land that will be used for the farms.

“300 feet is well bellow what a commercial utility-sized wind turbine would be today,” said BPW Business Services Director Daniel Nally. “We have to get up high to get the resource you need to make the project commercially viable.”

The Holland BPW says they’re still in the initial testing phases of the project and will wait for the township’s regulations before they move ahead.

Board members are hopeful a vote will go through this week.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/28/saugatuck-township-discussing-vote-on-wind-farm-ordinance/