January 11, 2018
Michigan

Fate of Tuscola permits still up in the air

By Mary Drier For the Tribune | Huron Daily Tribune | Wednesday, January 10, 2018 | www.michigansthumb.com

JUNIATA TOWNSHIP – Despite multiple meetings and another one scheduled, the Juniata Township Planning Commission has not made a decision on NextEra Energy Resources LLC requests for special land use permits.

Last week the commission hosted two special meetings. The first was recessed to the next day because it lasted so long. Between the two meetings, the commission met for over eight hours.

The commission will meet again at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Akron-Fairgrove School. The school is being used because the Juanita Township Hall only seats about 45 people, while the school can hold over 200.

The planning commission can approved the special land use permits request, deny them or enact a moratorium in order to have more time for review.

At issue is the energy company’s request for approval of special land use permits for 31 turbines in Juniata Township for NextEra’s Pegasus Wind Energy Center. The Pegasus project also includes 32 turbines in Fairgrove Township. The Fairgrove Planning Commission approved the special land use permits request in December without opposition.

The Pegasus Energy Center is being developed to tie in with NextEra’s Tuscola Wind I and Tuscola Wind II in Tuscola County, and with the Pheasant Run (wind) farm in Huron County.

NextEra also wants to develop Tuscola III in Almer and Ellington townships, but that project has met with strong opposition from a grassroots group opposing the project. It is tied up in litigation and a moratorium was enacted for more time to study the special land use permits request and zoning ordinances.

A similar group in Juniata Township is opposed and/or concerned about the wind farms development. The Juniata Concerned Citizens group formed in November with some guidance from members of the Almer and Ellington group that opposed NextEra’s wind project in those townships.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/01/11/fate-of-tuscola-permits-still-up-in-the-air/