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.
Michigan’s not good for wind power, so Consumers Energy customers will pay more
The Michigan Public Service Commission recently approved an application from Consumers Energy to buy an industrial wind farm development in Hillsdale County that is projected to begin operations by December 2020. The Crescent Wind Project is said to have a levelized cost of electricity, a common industry metric, of about $48 per megawatt hour over a 31-year period. That’s above the average national cost, and the rate will hold only if the big utility company is allowed to use federal . . . Complete story »
Wise voters reject zoning amendment
For the second time in two years, voters in Wise Township rejected amendments to their zoning ordinance that would have permitted construction of wind turbines. The amendment went down 136 voting against to 99 voting for, 58 percent to 42 percent. Turnout in the township was unusually high for an off-year election at 30 percent. The amendment established parameters for the construction of turbines. Although language permitting them in the township was included in 2012, it didn’t include things like . . . Complete story »
Conflict of interest: Officials with turbine tower leases approve wind development
An industrial wind facility is set to launch in Hillsdale County next year, despite significant opposition from local residents and questions. The opposition stems in part from a series of approvals granted by Wheatland Township officials who stand to benefit financially from the construction and operation of wind turbine towers and related facilities. Opponents of the Crescent Wind Energy Center, organized as Concerned Citizen of Wheatland Township, claim the township’s planning commission and board rammed through ordinance modifications and use . . . Complete story »
Great Lakes offshore wind — possibility or pipe dream?
Like a spinning turbine barely visible on the horizon, the end of a regulatory odyssey to get approval for what would be the first U.S. freshwater offshore wind farm is now within sight for developers. A final approval is needed from the Ohio Power Siting Board, which is among more than a dozen agencies that must sign off on the 20.7-megawatt Icebreaker project, a demonstration wind farm about 8 miles from downtown Cleveland in Lake Erie. The board hasn’t signaled . . . Complete story »
Residents upset over proposed wind farm in Wheatland Township
A proposed wind farm in Hillsdale County’s Wheatland Township has been met with the resistance of 120 angry residents. Members from the group “Informed Citizens of Wheatland Township” gathered outside Wheatland Township Hall during the Oct. 8 township board meeting to voice their disapproval for the wind farm initially proposed from Invenergy, an Illinois-based energy company. Chris Pollard, a resident of Wheatland Township, is leading the efforts to slow down construction of the wind farm. “The wind turbines are not . . . Complete story »
Michigan embarks on renewable energy public, company information campaign
A new initiative in Michigan to encourage and guide individuals and businesses in the transition to clean energy has been launched by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Public Service Commission. Called MI Power Grid, the initiative will serve as a centralized source for information and is designed to engage utility customers and other stakeholders to help integrate new clean energy technologies. It also will produce feedback to help utilities optimize grid investments for reliable, affordable electricity service. The MIPowerGrid.com . . . Complete story »
Apex nearing site choices for its 136 Isabella project turbines
Within the next couple of weeks, Apex Clean Energy LLC will start letting property owners in northern Isabella County know where they plan to build their 136 wind turbines. Originally, they were permitted to construct 157, but after switching to a shorter turbine that generates more power they found they could get by with fewer, said Albert Jongewaard, Apex’s development manager. Seven of the sites originally slated for turbines that won’t get them are in Vernon Township. They were removed . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farm meets resistance
WHEATLAND TWP. – Plans to construct a 166-megawatt commercial wind farm in Hillsdale County have some residents up in arms. On Tuesday, upwards of two dozen protestors gathered outside Wheatland Township Hall to picket before a board of trustees meeting. They carried signs expressing their opposition to the project, which would see an unknown number of wind turbines erected in Adams, Moscow and Wheatland townships. Chris Pollard, one of the organizers behind Tuesday’s demonstration, said his group, which call themselves the . . . Complete story »
State regulator gives Consumers Energy OK to recover cost of wind farm
Lansing – State utility regulators on Monday approved Consumers Energy’s request to recover the full cost of its purchase of a 166-megawatt wind farm in Hillsdale County. On July 31, Consumers requested the Michigan Public Service Commission approve its bid to recover the full cost of its build-transfer contract with Crescent Wind LLC. The contract requires Crescent Wind to engineer, construct, install, start up, and test the wind farm in Adams, Moscow and Wheatland townships, then sell it to the Jackson-based . . . Complete story »
Planners discuss turbines in master plan update
BAD AXE – The Huron County Planning Commission finally heard updates about the revisions to the county’s Master Plan at this week’s meeting. Alan Bean, a project planner for Spicer Group, spoke at Wednesday’s meeting about the changes – mostly dealing with renewable energy – and the planners discussed what they wanted to be included. In a section dealing with wind turbines, the planners wanted information included about how residents voted down two separate proposals for wind overlay districts in 2017. Planner . . . Complete story »
