January 5, 2011
Michigan

Planning commission: No wind farm moratorium

Jennifer Linn Hartley - Staff Writer, Ludington Daily News, www.ludingtondailynews.com 5 January 2011

The Mason County Planning Commission will not recommend a moratorium on the construction of wind farms in Mason County to the county board.

The planning commission met Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of a moratorium recommendation and begin looking at an amendment to the Mason County Zoning Ordinance a concerned group of residents requested late last year.

The zoning amendment addresses the group’s concerns with wind farm regulations in the county, including issues with setbacks, flicker, bats and road repairs and maintenance.

Consumers Energy is planning a 100 megawatt wind farm, Lake Winds Energy Park, for Summit and Riverton townships. The company’s plans call for erecting 56 476-foot-tall wind turbines.

Consumers Energy has yet to turn in an application for the wind farm, but spokesman Dennis Marvin said the company hopes to turn one in within the next three to four weeks, if not sooner.

After reviewing advice from an attorney, the planning commission decided against recommending the moratorium. It hopes to sort through the amendment on its own without enacting a temporary halt to wind turbine construction in the county – likely meeting weekly for several months.

See the full story in today’s print and eEditions of the Ludington Daily News.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/05/planning-commission-no-wind-farm-moratorium/