June 12, 2020
Michigan

Commissioners having issues with DTE wind farm documentation

Robert Creenan | Huron Daily Tribune | Friday, June 12, 2020 | www.michigansthumb.com

BAD AXE – The Huron County Board of Commissioners once again unanimously rejected financial documentation from DTE regarding the Big Turtle Wind Farm near Harbor Beach.

Mary Babcock, the legislative chair, said during Tuesday’s board of commissioners meeting that the documentation they received from DTE did not answer a question pertaining to property taxes.

The commissioners asked whether they would continue paying the same tax rates as the wind farm’s former owners, Heritage Sustainable Energy, or appeal so that they would pay the same rate as their other wind farms.

“Until that question is answered, we could not approve them,” Babcock said during the commissioners’ meeting.

DTE had purchased 10 turbines that make up Phase 1 of the wind farm from Heritage Sustainable Energy in January.

The commissioners wanted DTE to follow the same tax schedule rules, escrow account deposit scheduling and to change wording in the documents so that it would be run the same as when Heritage Sustainable Energy operated it.

When this issue of documentation came up in a previous commissioners meeting, Babcock, along with Director of Building and Zoning Jeff Smith and Public Guardian Steve Allen, complained about the vague wording of the documents and wanted something clearly worded.

In other business, Commissioner John Bodis talked about last Friday’s demonstration in support of nationwide protests. He said the police departments involved with monitoring it, the county sheriff’s department, the Bad Axe Police, Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department, and Michigan State Police, all did a fantastic job considering several hundred people were present.

“I checked the county building and property, and nothing was damaged,” Bodis said. “It went well. Some hiccups, but they did a good job.”

The commissioners also voted to start displaying a 15-by-25-foot American flag to be suspended above the front steps of the Huron County Building.

It would be hung up annually between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.

Commissioner Todd Talaski said he bought the flag himself so it would be at no cost to the county. He also said he needs to make sure the lights along the building’s steps work for illumination.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/06/12/commissioners-having-issues-with-dte-wind-farm-documentation/