March 3, 2011
Michigan

More turbines shot in Ubly

By Kate Hessling, Tribune Staff Writer, www.michigansthumb.com 3 March 2011

SHERIDAN TWP – Wind park officials reported another incident involving turbines being damaged by gunfire in the Michigan Wind I wind farm near Ubly.

“In the lifespan of this park, there have been now five distinct separate incidents involving either firearm discharge or threats made to this site,” states a report from wind park staff that was included in the police report taken by the Huron County Sheriff’s office following the most recent incident, which took place Feb. 23 in Sheridan Township.

Last week’s incident involved firearm damage to tower 37 on the lower tower rear section (opposite door-side of tower), according to information given to the sheriff’s office. The damage did not prohibit operations.

The manager for Exelon Michigan operations contacted police Feb. 24 to report the incident. The manager – who asked media reports do not disclose his name, in case the person(s) who did this was targeting him – said the damage was discovered when he went to perform routine maintenance on tower 37 at the turbine site at 554 Huron Line Road at 2:50 p.m. Feb. 23.

“Upon further investigation, they counted two bullet marks that appeared to be from a .22 caliber riffle,” states the report from the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. “ … (The manager) said the last time the tower was inspected was Jan. 27. At that time, no holes were noticed. Feb. 23 was the next date the technicians went to the tower and that is when they noticed the marks on the rear of the tower.”

The manager told police this is not the first time turbines in the wind park have been shot.

The first time was in April 2009, when a high volume firearm discharge was found in the tower body of turbine 19, according to a report included in the sheriff’s report. The results of this damage did not prohibit operations.

Read the full version of this article in the Huron Daily Tribune or online in our e-Edition.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/03/more-turbines-shot-in-ubly/