May 7, 2015
Michigan

Meade Township rejects wind overlay

By Kelly Krager, Editor | Huron County View | 2015-05-07 | huroncountyview.mihomepaper.com

MEADE TOWNSHIP – After years of planning, Detroit Edison and the Meade Township Planning Commission will be back to the drawing board for a wind overlay district and wind park planned in Meade Township.

Meade residents voted 222 to 147 to overturn a Meade Township Board decision made in November 2013 to approve the overlay district and allow DTE to move forward with its plans.

The decision was challenged by a number of residents through a referendum petition circulated by Rita Parsch.

The ballot question read: “The Meade Township Board approved an ordinance amendment to establish a wind overlay district on Nov. 11, 2014. This approval will allow the development of a wind energy project to continue in Meade Township. Should this ordinance amendment be approved, yes or no?”

Representatives from DTE could not be reached on deadline, but have previously stated the company always has a contingency plan in case a project is thwarted.

Prior to the referendum, DTE had planned to construct approximately 48 turbines in Meade Township and 13 in 13 in Colfax Township.

According to information from DTE, installation of the $250 million, 100-megawatt park would bring the utility to 10.2 percent of the 10 percent renewable energy goal utilities must meet by 2015. The park would bring an estimated $4 million in tax revenue to Meade Township over 20 years, DTE officials said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/05/07/meade-township-rejects-wind-overlay/