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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Hundreds expected at Monitor Township meeting Monday about wind turbines
A big decision over whether to allow wind turbines is looming Monday in Bay County’s Monitor Township. DTE Energy is considering a wind farm on land bordered by North Union Road, Townline Road and I-75. Neighbors are lining up against the proposal. A group of concerned citizens has organized against the plans and placed dozens of yard signs reading “Too Tall, Too Close, Too Loud.” Township Supervisor Ken Malkin said will ask for a moratorium on wind turbine permits and . . . Complete story »
Residents worry township leaders are pushing for wind turbines
The often-controversial wind turbines are stirring up residents in a Mid-Michigan community. Residents worry their leaders are out to change local ordinances to make it easy for utility companies to put up fields of gigantic windmills. “Surprised I wasn’t notified that they were making these changes,” said Pete Campbell, Monitor Township resident. Campbell believes local leaders in his Bay County township are trying to pull a fast one. He feels they may be looking to change a local ordinance to . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine moratorium to be requested in Monitor Township
Many residents in Bay County’s Monitor Township say they’re strongly opposed to plans by D T E Energy to locate a wind turbine network after the Detroit based utility was recently stopped in nearby Beaver Township. Monitor Township Supervisor Ken Malkin says he’ll ask trustees when they meet Monday evening at Seven in the Township Hall off Midland Road to approve a moratorium on any permit applications or construction until a new tougher wind turbine ordinance is approved. Malkin acknowledged . . . Complete story »
Ovid twp. first to make wind turbine ordinance
OVID TOWNSHIP – Ovid Township trustees last week became the first township in Branch County to approve an ordinance regulating wind turbine construction. The change was part of a zoning ordinance rewrite presented by consultants MeKenna and Associates and approved by the township zoning commission. It allows for individual land owners to have a small turbine just to serve one property and limits its height to 40 feet for less than an acre up to 120 feet for three or more . . . Complete story »
County board finalizes new wind rules; Changes prompt wind firms to say projects are dead
CORUNNA – The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to finalize the county’s ordinance regulating wind turbines to make it more restrictive toward companies that wish to build in the county – a move three wind companies say will end their plans in the county after a debate that has raged for the past 1 1/2 years. “It is a sense of relief, now that this is over,” Board Chairman Jeff Bartz said after the meeting. “This has been the . . . Complete story »
Concerned citizens hold wind turbine forum
UNION CITY – Nearly 100 Branch County citizens attended a meeting last Thursday at Union City Middle School to hear about the effects of wind turbines. Guest speaker, Kevon Martis, a senior policy analyst of the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition, Inc., a bipartisan grassroots renewable energy watchdog group not sponsored by any industry or advocacy group, was asked to speak to local citizens by the Concerned Citizens of Branch County group on ‘Zoning for Wind Energy; Trespass Zoning or Property Rights . . . Complete story »
County advances wind turbine rules to discuss
CORUNNA – The Shiawassee County Economic and Physical Development Committee Monday unanimously advanced zoning ordinance amendments relating to height, sound and setbacks to its ordinance regulating wind turbine developments in the county, which has been a topic of controversy for the past 1 1/2 years. The matter will be addressed at Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, where, if it is approved, it will be sent to the full board Thursday for final approval. “We’ll wait until Wednesday if we want . . . Complete story »
Oklahoma man dangles from wind turbine Friday afternoon for a time
An Oklahoma man spent some time dangling from his safety rope when he slipped while doing maintenance on a wind turbine in Sheridan Township. Bingham Ubly Fire Chief Joe Stacer said they were called to the scene on Bad Axe Road, about 1 1/2 miles south of Atwater Road just before 12 noon Friday, along with Bingham EMS. The worker from Run Energy was performing maintenance on the G.E. turbine when he slipped while checking the bolts in the nose . . . Complete story »
Wheatland wind decision postponed
WHEATLAND TWP. – Waldron Road was crowded with cars on both sides as the Wheatland Township Planning Commission hosted a standing-room only public hearing on Thursday night to discuss the future of the township’s wind ordinance. While the meeting’s stated purpose was to make a decision on whether or not to change the township’s ordinances regulating wind energy to more closely resemble those of Gratiot County, the bulk of the meeting was devoted to residents arguing the question of whether or . . . Complete story »
DTE, Twps hold wind energy meeting
MATTESON TOWNSHIP – DTE Energy has been leasing easement rights from property owners in Matteson Township and other Branch County townships. The easements allow DTE to evaluate the property, as they explore the possibility of developing a wind energy park in the county. On Wednesday, Matteson Township held a special informational meeting at Chicago Street School. A group of more than 100 gathered to hear the pros and cons on wind energy. Concerned Citizens of Matteson Township and DTE Energy staff . . . Complete story »
