March 1, 2019
Michigan

PI to review wind turbine ballot language

The Alpena News | Mar 1, 2019 | www.thealpenanews.com

ROGERS CITY – The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners will today review ballot language that would allow some county residents to vote on the county’s controversial wind turbine ordinance.

The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today.

Late last year, county commissioners amended the county’s wind turbine ordinance, which addresses zoning issues pertaining to the installation of wind turbines.

However, a petition circulated by Moltke Township residents Mike and Stefani Schulte received enough signatures to force that ordinance to the ballot for the public to decide. Presque Isle County residents who live in cities or townships with their own wind turbine ordinance will not be able to vote.

The county has not yet scheduled when that vote will happen or approved the exact language that will go before voters.

The Schultes have voiced concern about how wind turbines on neighboring properties would impact a portion of their property where they graze cattle. Several other Moltke Township residents have also voiced concerns about wind turbines to county commissioners.

A 100-megawatt wind energy project is in the works for Moltke Township, with officials from Sstar Ridge-Run Energy working to obtain leases the company needs for the projects from property owners. The company, however, has yet to file a permit with the county.

Commissioners in December decided they would not put a moratorium on wind turbines, as requested by the Schultes and other Moltke Township residents.

The board will today also receive an update on and review bids for the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center and will discuss a wage increase for employees in the county prosecutor’s office.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/03/01/pi-to-review-wind-turbine-ballot-language/