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.
Wind energy focus of Tuesday meeting
NORTH BRANCH – Lapeer County Citizens WindWatch, a group of northern Lapeer County residents concerned about the possible effects of a proposed wind turbine project in their communities will hold a Wind Energy Policy Forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) at the North Branch Wesleyan Church. The meeting will feature Kevon Martis of Blissfield, who is a senior policy fellow at the Energy and Environment Legal Institute in Washington, DC. Michelle Peel, who is organizing the event, said other speakers . . . Complete story »
Commissioners deny moratorium request
BAD AXE – A majority of county commissioners rejected a request Tuesday to extend Huron County’s wind energy moratorium for one year. Prior to taking a vote, Sami Khoury, chairman of the board of commissioners, asked Robert McLean, chairman of the Huron County Planning Commission, for an update on recent activity. McLean told commissioners they need to work together with planners. At the commissioners’ request last year, McLean said planners stopped working on wind and focused on solar. “… Anybody that . . . Complete story »
Kawkawlin Township supervisor faces recall election in May
KAWKAWLIN, MI – Kawkawlin Township’s supervisor faces a recall election May 5 after he voted against a moratorium on wind energy turbines in the township. Dennis Bragiel, the township’s supervisor for 10 years, faces Samuel Davidson, running as an independent, who filed a petition to run against Bragiel. Both of their names will appear on the special election ballot. Shawn Starkey, a spokesman for Michigan Secretary of State’s office, said in 2012 the legislature changed the way recalls happen and . . . Complete story »
Planners seek extension of wind moratorium
BAD AXE – County planners are moving forward with their request to extend the county’s wind moratorium after an outcry from residents opposing more wind turbines. “We’ve got enough of them,” Sherman Township resident Richard Stein told Huron’s planning commission Wednesday night. Planners hosted a public hearing for a request to extend the Huron County Wind Moratorium during this week’s meeting. The wind moratorium went into effect March 1, 2018, and was set to stay in effect for one year or . . . Complete story »
More turbines coming to Tuscola in 2019
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP – More wind turbines are coming to northern Tuscola County later this year. Consumers Energy sent a newsletter to Columbia Township residents notifying them construction of Phase III of Cross Winds Energy Park will start soon. There will be 33 new turbines built as part of the Cross Winds Energy Park’s Phase III in the township. “This will help us meet our company goal of generating more than 40 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2040,” said . . . Complete story »
Wind supporter is unaffected by turbines he pushes
This is in response to a letter from Sunday from Keith den Hollander of the Christian Coalition. He mentions Isabella County and how a special use permit was recently approved for Apex Clean Energy to build 157 turbines in five of our townships. While entitled to his opinion, den Hollander paints a rosy, pro-wind picture of the issue in Isabella County. Last week’s public hearing on the permit application was nothing more than going through the motions. The permit approval . . . Complete story »
Local township closer to approving zoning rules for wind energy farms
It was a much smaller crowd at Monday night’s Monitor Township planning commission meeting dealing with wind farms. Many are still opposed to the idea of turbines in the township, west of Bay City, but are satisfied with zoning guidelines. Brandon Krause chaired a wind energy rules committee and says wind farm operators must pay a bond for each turbine to cover expenses incurred by the township. In addition to noise and setback rules, wind farms must be 2,000 feet . . . Complete story »
Ohioans cheer New Jersey’s turbine decision
Boating and environmental groups in Ohio and Michigan are cheering the New Jersey Public Utilities Commission’s decision to reject the proposed Nautilus wind farm off the Garden State, declaring that it “fails to demonstrate a net economic benefit to the state.” Organizations in Ohio and Michigan are engaged in a battle to prevent wind turbines from being built in America’s five Great Lakes. “This basis for the rejection by New Jersey’s PUCO mirrors our position that the proposed turbine farm . . . Complete story »
View map: Wind farm foes release project sight analysis
The Friends of the Huron Mountains (FOHM) has released a sight analysis of the proposed Summit Lake Wind Project (SLWP) in Baraga County developed with help from the Geospatial Research Facility at the Great Lakes Research Center of Michigan Technological University. The “view shed,” available as both a two-dimensional map as well as in virtual reality, shows how turbines at the SLWP site would be visible from locations within a 25-mile radius, surrounding Keweenaw Bay and as far as Quincy . . . Complete story »
County planners approve major windfarm in northern townships
Plans for a major wind farm in five townships across northern Isabella County took a major step forward Thursday night when the Isabella County Planning Commission gave them its unanimous approval before a packed crowd in Mt. Pleasant city hall. Their approval came with significant strings attached, and part of the night was spent hashing out areas for which the permit applicant, Apex Clean Energy, Inc., acknowledged that its plans were not entirely in compliance with the county’s zoning ordinance . . . Complete story »
