Wind Power News: Michigan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
DTE to request bids for solar and wind projects
One of Michigan’s largest utilities is looking to purchase electricity from solar- and wind-powered producers to help meet government-mandated and its own renewable energy goals. DTE Energy is seeking to buy 25 to 200 megawatts of electricity from solar projects and 100 to 200 megawatts from wind projects, the company said. The company will consider projects reaching commercial operation between 2021 and 2023. The open bid will look for participation from large and small developers, the company said in a . . . Complete story »
Sherwood planning passes wind turbine ordinance
SHERWOOD TOWNSHIP – After 22 months of work, the Sherwood Township Planning Commission has recommend the first Wind Turbine control ordinance to its township board. After an 8-0 vote, it will go to the township for its Nov. 4 meeting. The detailed ordinance will need a few minor amendments but is essentially the draft put together by Chris Khorey of consultants McKenna and Associates. While it has the support of Concerned Citizens of Branch County, DTE Energy presented an analysis to . . . Complete story »
Turbine opponents gets boost from commission
Those opposed to the siting of wind turbines in the northwestern part of Branch County got a major boost from the Sherwood Township Planning Commission Tuesday night. The Planning Commission recommended on a 6-0 vote that the Township Board adopt an amendment to the Township Zoning Ordinance which would require a Special Use Permit for wind energy conversion systems. It would also establish what some regard as stringent regulations and standards. Sherwood Township officials have been dealing with the wind . . . Complete story »
Batavia to wait on wind turbine zoning
BATAVIA TOWNSHIP – The Batavia Township Planning Commission is not yet ready to tackle a wind turbine ordinance, Trustee Mike Crenshaw told the township board Tuesday night. At the Aug. 26 planning meeting, Crenshaw said: “a lot of people stood up and told us what their wishes were.” A petition of 96 residents plus six letters were given to the commission. The number of names has not increased to 122. “The gist of it is they did not want them or . . . Complete story »
Turbines found within wind ordinance limits
BAD AXE – A report about noise levels at Apple Blossom Wind Farm in Winsor and McKinley Townships found that all wind turbines were in compliance. Andrew Johnson, the wind facility manager for Apple Blossom, was present to lead a presentation about the findings. Johnson brought in Ben Copenhaver, an acoustics sound engineer from Minneapolis-based HDR Engineering who oversaw the noise testing, to explain the findings. The testing was conducted on four different turbine sites, labeled M1, M2, M4, and . . . Complete story »
As zebras watch, Detroit Zoo announces switch to wind energy
Royal Oak – Before an attentive audience of elected officials, reporters and zebras, the Detroit Zoo announced Thursday that it’s embracing a renewable energy plan and will ultimately draw all of its electricity from Michigan wind parks. The contract, part of DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, will take effect in 2021. The wind parks, two in mid-Michigan’s Isabella County and one in the Upper Peninsula’s Delta County, are scheduled for completion in late 2020. The latest step in what the Detroit Zoological . . . Complete story »
County to sign deal to back wind turbine decommissioning with $200,000 apiece
Isabella County entered into an agreement Tuesday night that is intended to pay the bill when it comes time to tear down the turbines in a wind farm in the north-central part of the county. Under the agreement, Isabella Wind, LLC, will take out a $200,000 bond for each turbine it builds. The company is currently planning to build up to 136 turbines, a number scaled back from the 157 it was permitted to build by the county’s planning commission . . . Complete story »
Isabella Township rejects proposals for go-it-alone on zoning
For the second August in two years, voters in Isabella Township overwhelmingly rejected a ballot proposal that would have required the township board to leave the county’s zoning ordinance and do its own. By an even larger margin, they defeated a second ballot question that would have established a millage to pay for the new zoning. Township zoning was voted down, 216 no votes to 74 votes in favor of the township going alone. The millage failed by 240 against . . . Complete story »
Voters narrowly accept controversial turbine ordinance
ROGERS CITY – Voters in some parts of Presque Isle County voted narrowly on Tuesday to support a controversial wind turbine ordinance, while voters in Metz said yes to a five-year renewal of a tax for road repairs. According to unofficial results Tuesday, 322 voters in 11 of the county’s townships voted to keep the wind turbine rules written by the county Board of Commissioners, while 303 voters in those townships voted against the ordinance. That’s a difference of only 19 . . . Complete story »
Wind farm east of Muskegon met with lawsuits, recall attempts
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – A proposed wind farm project at the border of Muskegon and Kent counties continues to be the subject of sharp division between residents, their elected officials and the project’s developer. Two lawsuits have been filed against Casnovia Township since it approved a special use permit for the wind farm in April. One lawsuit was filed by residents opposed to the project, and the other by the project’s developer, American Electric Power. Meanwhile, three members of the . . . Complete story »
