April 25, 2015
Michigan

DTE using wind tour to help answer May 5 ballot questions

By Chris Aldridge, Tribune Staff Writer | Huron Daily Tribune | April 25, 2015 | www.michigansthumb.com

HURON COUNTY – Ahead of a May 5 ballot question that will let voters decide the fate of a wind energy project in Meade Township, DTE Energy is planning a media-only invite tour of its Brookfield Wind Park.

On Wednesday, DTE says its “wind energy experts” will give an overview of the Meade Township ballot proposal, project plans in Huron County and address reporters’ questions about wind energy. The tour is not open to the public.

Readers who have questions related to the proposal, or the utility’s project plans in Huron County, can call the Tribune at 989-269-6461, or email caldridge@hearstnp.com or submit them online in the comments section via Facebook.

“Michigan utilities will generate 10 percent of electricity sales from renewable sources by the end of this year – 95 percent of that will come from wind energy,” the utility said in a media advistory. “And, future Environmental Protection Agency and state energy policies will continue to drive that percentage even higher.”

The May 5 ballot question asks Meade Township’s more than 525 registered voters to decide whether DTE’s plans for up to 58 turbines should go forward. Meade Resident Rita Parsch challenged the township board’s approval of the project, gathering more than 120 signatures – only 45 were needed – for a referendum vote. Turbines also are planned for Colfax and Chandler as part of the project, but the majority would be in Meade.

Wind Site Development Manager Matt Wagner told the Tribune in April that DTE is “working on a number of things” if voters say no. He declined to reveal the utility’s backup plans, but said they are talking with landowners regularly.

More than 150 landowners have signed 20-year contracts to participate in the $214 million project. DTE says Meade would receive about $4 million in turbine tax revenue over 20 years, $5 million would go to local schools and libraries and $7 million to local roads and fire services.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/25/dte-using-wind-tour-to-help-answer-may-5-ballot-questions/