January 17, 2011
Michigan
Michigan
Franz meets with Benzie, Manistee wind opponents
By Tom Kramer, Interlochen Public Radio, ipr.interlochen.org 17 January 2011
By Tom Kramer, Interlochen Public Radio, ipr.interlochen.org 17 January 2011
101st District Representative Ray Franz thinks the state should drop its mandate for renewable energy and he hopes to introduce legislation to do just that. The freshman lawmaker represents lakeshore counties from Leelanau down to Mason.
The state’s mandate says 10 percent of the energy supplied in Michigan must come from renewable sources by the year 2015. It’s been in place since 2008.
Franz says he’s spoken with several other freshman legislators and many are in favor of lifting the mandates.
“The mandates are going to require a type of electricity generation that is actually twice as expensive as what we’re using right now, so it has a detrimental impact on, of course, the economy and jobs by driving up the cost of energy in the state,” Franz says.
This past weekend, Franz met with opponents of a commercial wind development along the Benzie-Manistee County line. The proposed wind farm would bring more than 100 wind turbines to 1,200 acres across four townships.
Play audio above for Franz’ discussion of the local wind proposal with IPR’s Tom Kramer.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/17/franz-meets-with-benzie-manistee-wind-opponents/