July 11, 2018
Michigan

Townships band together to fight wind turbines

By Amanda Chodnicki | nbc25news.com

Wind energy, specifically involving wind turbines, is an issue that’s dividing communities across mid-Michigan.

Bay County’s Monitor Township is one of those communities.

The township is moving closer towards updating its decade-old wind energy ordinance.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, residents got some help getting their message across from a neighboring community.

One after another Monitor Township residents voiced their concerns yet again about the possibility of having wind turbines in their backyards.

This time they addressed the planning commission.

“If I want to see turbines I’ll move to Holly,” one resident said.

At the meeting, there was a roomful of upset Monitor Township residents.

“Are we not listening to the locals?” one resident asked the planning commission. “What the hell does DTE have invested in Monitor Township?”

They were joined by residents from Kawkawlin Township, who are fighting a similar battle and came to show their support.

The Monitor Township supervisor, Kenneth Malkin, also weighed in on the issue.

“I’m recommending that they be at least a mile away from any residentially-owned property,” he said.

Tuesday evening’s meeting was just a discussion.

The planning commission isn’t expected to vote until August and any changes need to be approved by the township board.

There wasn’t any representatives from DTE at this meeting.

However, they were at the previous meeting and stated there is indeed support for the wind turbines.