We await answers from DTE Energy
Huron Daily Tribune | March 15, 2013 | www.michigansthumb.com
We’re glad to see DTE Energy officials have scheduled a day for meeting with the public and answering questions about their latest, planned wind farm – Echo Wind Park.
Next Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be an open house to learn about the park at Pigeon District Library.
Echo Wind Park is supposed to be in operation before the end of the year with 70 new wind turbines on a 16,000-acre site, primarily in Oliver and Chandler townships. Members of the public with any remaining questions about the turbines and how they will produce energy and be good for the environment are urged to attend.
DTE Energy even plans to serve free refreshments.
While the energy company might be great hosts for such an event, we think the public wants more than answers about Echo Wind Park (and some milk and cookies). The public wants and needs answers regarding a wind turbine that broke off and crashed to the ground this week in Thumb Wind Park in Sigel Township.
DTE Energy was quick to admit that it did not have an answer for the accident, which apparently occurred during low winds. And, we give DTE high marks for being candid and responding to the news media. But residents in the county with the most wind energy in the state – yes, Huron – will be anxiously awaiting the company’s findings. People need to know if it is not safe to be near a turbine – even during low winds.
There are have been other unexplained reports of General Electric-made wind turbines breaking in other states. The possibility that this was not a one-time event is disturbing.
We hope DTE will be good neighbors through this process, and the public will learn to trust the company to provide safe turbines, responsible answers and safety warnings – if necessary.
The clock is ticking.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/16/we-await-answers-from-dte-energy/