By Max Johnston & Kaye LaFond | Interlochen Public Radio | April 19, 2019 | www.interlochenpublicradio.org
A controversial plan for a wind farm in the Upper Peninsula has been cancelled. Renewable Energy Systems was behind the project which aimed to put 49 wind turbines across 28,000 acres in L’Anse Township.
In a statement, RES said the project was no longer financially or logistically viable.
“After a careful review of several factors, RES has decided to discontinue the development of the Summit Lake Wind project,” said RES Project Manager Sean Stocker. “We have enjoyed working with the local community and want to thank all the landowners and supporters of the Summit Lake Wind project.”
Residents, activists and tribal citizens all fought the plan. Burt Mason lives near the proposed site, and says he is glad to see it go.
“There was very little benefit to the residents here [but] it was certainly beneficial to large corporations,” Mason said.
But Mason says because of how the site is zoned, turbines could still be built there in the future.
Voters could change that zoning in a referendum scheduled for May 7.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/04/20/up-wind-farm-plan-cancelled-after-pushback/