March 13, 2013
Michigan

Work continues on wind ordinance

By Mary Drier, Staff Writer | Tuscola County Advertiser | March 13, 2013 | www.tuscolatoday.com

WISNER – With wind development projects being built and proposed throughout the Thumb area, Wisner Township officials took steps to be ready if such a project comes to their area.

The township’s planning commission has been working on drafting a wind ordinance for several years. A public hearing on ordinances regarding wind development was held in February, and was approved by the commission.

Although the township’s planning commission approved the ordinance, it is not official until the township board adopts it.

Because of turbines having gone up in neighboring Gilford Township, and with Akron, Columbia and Fairgrove townships adopting or amending their ordinances, the Wisner Planning Commission felt it would be in the best interest of the township to do so sooner, rather than later, explained planning commission member Lisa Valentine.

According to township Supervisor James MacFarlane, it is his understanding NextEra Energy Resources is eying Wisner for possible development.

NextEra Energy Resources LLC is the company that built Tuscola – Bay Wind Farm, which has 68 turbines in Tuscola County’s Gilford Township and seven in Saginaw County’s Blumfield Township. The company is also eying development in Fairgrove Township.

Wisner Township’s proposed ordinances is to provide a regulatory framework regarding wind energy conversion facilities within the township in case it is developed there.

Copies of the proposed “wind energy conversion facilities amendment” to the township’s zoning ordinance may be viewed at Wisner Township Clerk’s office at 4441 Bath Rd., Fairgrove, at the Tuscola County Clerk’s office in the courthouse at 440 N. State St., Caro, or online at http://wisnertownship.webs.com or http://spicerplanners.wordpress.com.

The township board’s next meeting is 7 p.m., Monday.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/13/work-continues-on-wind-ordinance/