February 6, 2011
Michigan

Opposition has Lenawee Co. wind farms on hold

WTVG-TV/DT, abclocal.go.com 5 February 2011

Green energy is stirring up residents living in Lenawee County. Two companies are preparing to build an industrial wind farm, but not everyone is sold on the idea. Today, a group who opposes the plan met with hundreds of resident at Blissfield Middle School.

With 100 towers of wind power, Riga Township could soon be the home of Michigan’s largest wind farm. Two companies, John Deere’s wind energy division and Juwi, are pursuing turbine farms in Riga, Ogden and Palmyra townships.

With up to 250 turbines in Lenawee County, some residents are concerned about their property values. “The impacts are severe,” says real estate appraiser Mick McCann. “Home prices could decrease in value by 25 percent or more.”

Local leaders understand the concern, but alternative energy will bring big money. Developers tout the wind farms will create nearly $18 million in tax revenue over the next 20 years for Lenawee County.

But money won’t blow over the divide between those for and against the farms, meaning it could be quite some time before you see a wind farm in southeast Michigan. There is still no timeline as to when the wind mega farm projects will move forward.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/06/opposition-has-lenawee-co-wind-farms-on-hold/