November 10, 2017
Letters, Michigan

Resident has issue with handling of wind energy

Huron Daily Tribune | November 10, 2017 | www.michigansthumb.com

When a wind developer leases a parcel of land the owner grants the rights to that property in exchange for money. But when a adjacent landowner does not sign a lease, but has to live with the interference and effects of a wind turbine. That is illegal. Taking wind turbines improperly sited next to a nonparticipating landowner creates a direct and imminent interference with the landowner’s complete and full use and enjoyment of their property.

This clearly amounts to a taking, which is illegal. The wind developers knowingly take a portion of a person’s property and uses and develops it without permission and without just compensation. They know it and I know it. Did Huron County Corporate Counsel Steve Allen know it, and if he did was it made known to the planning commissioner’s and the board of commissioners of Huron County?

If it was made known to them why would they ever have allowed this to happen? If Allen didn’t know why didn’t he know? That’s his job to know it. After seven months of addressing the Huron County Planning Commission on the irresponsibly sited wind turbine put up by Heritage Sustainable Energy, I was informed by Allen that there had been a mistake and I was no longer allowed to talk to the planning commission about my complaint and I wasn’t supposed to be talking to them for the last seven months. He said the county has no jurisdiction over this matter and that I would have to sue Heritage.

What a shame that Huron County has put nonparticipating landowners in a precarious position.

I know building and zoning officials basic and primary duties are to not allow incompatible land uses to be sited next to each other, yet this is precisely what has happened. When you hire an attorney you expect wise counsel and expect them to fight for your best interest. This clearly has not happened in Huron County.

Huron County officials along with wind developers created this problem. I don’t see how they can in good conscience wash their hands of this problem it’s wrong and they know it.

Robert Gaffke

Bloomfield Township

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/11/10/resident-has-issue-with-handling-of-wind-energy/