March 18, 2021
Letters, Michigan

Beware of more wind turbines

Letter to the Editor | Huron Daily Tribune | March 17, 2021 | www.michigansthumb.com

The Huron County master plan was adopted last week by the board of commissioners, our elected officials, with one very significant change. Page 105 of the Sept. 3, 2020 draft as recommended by the county planning commission, stated, in part:

“The first utility-scale wind energy facility constructed with the approval of the Huron County planning commission was in 2008. … As each new wind turbine was constructed, the landscape of Huron County had seemingly changed. With this change came a noticeable shift in attitude and public opinion about wind turbines and their effect on the overall character of Huron County. … support for the development of new county-based wind energy facilities grew to a tipping point in 2017 with the rejection of two wind energy zoning overlays at the polls. In addition, the survey conducted in September and October of 2016 for this master plan did not indicate a majority support for the development of wind energy facilities.”

Page 106 Action Plan for Utility-Scale Wind Energy stated:

“2. No additional wind overlays to be approved.”

That section, “no additional wind overlays to be approved,” was removed by the BOC notwithstanding referendums and surveys, all at costs to residents and taxpayers of Huron County. Do they not hear the people?

You’ve heard the saying, ”build it and they will come.” The transmission loop running through the Thumb is currently underutilized. It was built to handle 2,800 1.5 MW wind turbines. So it’s time to either sell and move or be prepared to continue having to spend time and money fighting future wind overlays in our backyards. Better yet, let this be a wakeup call to all those who have said enough is enough and replace our current BOC with people who will represent the majority.

Louis J. Colletta

Huron County

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2021/03/18/beware-of-more-wind-turbines/