January 1, 2012
Michigan

Judge rules CARRE’s suit against met towers for Lake Winds Energy Park can go forward

Kevin Braciszeski - Daily News Staff Writer, Ludington Daily News, www.ludingtondailynews.com 31 December 2011

A group opposing the construction of wind turbines in Riverton and Summit townships will have its day in court following Mason County Circuit Court Judge Richard I. Cooper Thursday’s ruling that Citizens Alliance for Responsible Renewable Energy (CARRE) does have standing to sue to stop Consumers Energy from constructing seven 300-foot-tall meteorological (met) towers in the area.

The met towers will measure wind speeds at the same height as the generators on the 56 476-foot-tall wind turbines Consumers Energy is installing in the two townships. Two of the met towers will be permanent and five will be temporary.

The company has received approval for both the wind turbines and met towers from the Mason County Planning Commission.

CARRE appealed the planning commission’s actions to the Mason County Zoning Board of Appeals, and the ZBA backed up the planning commission. CARRE took the issue to circuit court and Consumers had tried to have CARRE’s lawsuit dismissed, claiming CARRE lacked standing to sue.

In his ruling Thursday, Cooper stated that CARRE met the standards for standing by presenting opposition that is both active and persistent. That is why he denied the Consumers’ motion to dismiss the case.

“The Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Renewable Energy (CARRE) is very pleased with the Court’s decision to allow the appeal to move forward and our case to be heard,” Cary Shineldecker, president, said in a statement Friday night.

The case is scheduled to be in court again Wednesday morning.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Ludington Daily News.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/01/judge-rules-carres-suit-against-met-towers-for-lake-winds-energy-park-can-go-forward/