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Committee to address wind ordinance
Credit: Brenda Battel, Tribune Staff Writer | Huron Daily Tribune | Tuesday, March 6, 2018 | www.michigansthumb.com ~~
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BAD AXE – Committee members will be appointed at Wednesday’s Huron County Planning Commission meeting to review the county’s current wind ordinance.
The ordinance, adopted in 2015, has never been tested, as no turbines have been constructed under its requirements.
“People have stated in public comment that they want to see amendments, even though the amended ordinance has never been put to task,” said Jeff Smith, county building and zoning director.
There are issues that the ordinance does not address that have come up among members of the public and county officials, Smith added.
A cap on the number of turbines in the county, and what to do in 20 or 30 years if wind energy developers want to repower the turbines are among issues that the committee could address, Smith said.
There has been a lot of discussion at the planners’ Huron County Master Plan workshops regarding decommissioning of turbines the future, and whether or not the county will allow new turbines to be built.
Many members of the public have challenged setbacks and noise limitations imposed on turbines as well.
Residents in county-zoned townships voted by a 2-to-1 margin in May 2017 to turn down two wind developments in several townships.
Smith noted that in 2010, voters support wind development 2 to 1.
“The ordinance has to address the will of the people,” Smith said. “Because of the vote (last May), the will of the people is no more wind.”
Planning commission Chairman Bernie Creguer will appoint members to the committee at the meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the County Building.
The planning commission committee would make recommendations to the Huron County Board of Commissioners, which would be ultimately responsible for adoption of any ordinance changes.
The board of commissioners passed a year-long moratorium on wind development last month. A similar moratorium had been passed in January of 2017.
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