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.
Montcalm Township public hearing on wind ordinance won’t occur until August
MONTCALM TOWNSHIP – A wind energy ordinance public hearing for Montcalm Township residents will now not take place until August. The Montcalm Township Planning Commission drafted a proposed ordinance in August 2020, but has yet to solidify it with a public hearing and potential recommendation to the township board. The Planning Commission was last scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on Dec. 2, but that meeting was canceled due to coronavirus restrictions. Additionally, the regular monthly township . . . Complete story »
Heated rhetoric blows about wind ordinance at Douglass Twp. meeting
DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP – The first-ever Zoom meeting of the Douglass Township Board saw 86 people participating remotely Wednesday evening, many of them voicing concerns about the township’s new wind turbine ordinance. The ordinance – which was approved by the township board on Nov. 4, 2020, after the Planning Commission hosted a public hearing on Oct. 30, 2020 – is now in the process of going to a voter referendum as soon as May. According to Township Clerk Ronda Snyder, 35 pages of petitions . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine catches fire in Chandler Township
CHANDLER TOWNSHIP – A wind turbine in Chandler Township caught fire in the early Christmas morning hours, damaging its powerhead and one of its blades. The turbine is part of the Harvest II Wind Project owned by Exelon Generation, the second part of a wind farm whose first phase began operations in 2008. Harvest II’s second phase started operating in 2012. Turbine #7 is located south of Crown Road and east of Gagetown Road. Jeff Smith, the Huron County building and . . . Complete story »
Winfield Township residents voice concerns about wind project
WINFIELD TOWNSHIP – A three-hour joint meeting of the Winfield Township Board and the Winfield Township Planning Commission on Monday evening included a good hour and a half of public comment on the subject of a pending wind energy facility ordinance. About 40 people attended the meeting, which was held via Zoom. (See accompanying story about legal advice provided by township-hired attorney Bill Fahey at the meeting.) Courtney Fisk of Winfield Township, an attorney herself, immediately clashed with Kyle O’Meara, the . . . Complete story »
Attorney advises Winfield Township officials on pending wind ordinance
WINFIELD TOWNSHIP – A special joint meeting of the Winfield Township Board and the Winfield Township Planning Commission featured legal advice on a pending wind energy facility ordinance, as well as conflict of interest scenarios involving township officials and a proposed wind farm project. About 40 people attended Monday evening’s three-hour meeting, which was held via Zoom. (See accompanying story about public comments.) For much of this year, the Planning Commission has been discussing how to create an appropriate wind energy . . . Complete story »
Montcalm Wind project attracts support, controversy
Montcalm County residents may have seen a handful of skinny poles with orangish-red balls on them placed at a few locations throughout the county. Four meteorological evaluation towers (MET towers, for short) have been erected with three more planned. While the towers were placed by Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy on private property with the landowner’s permission, the towers don’t indicate where future wind turbines may be placed – they are only there to gather wind data for planning the Montcalm Wind . . . Complete story »
Huron Township planners grant special use permits for new turbines
HURON TOWNSHIP – The Huron Township Planning Commission voted to accept a proposal for up to 21 new wind turbines to be built in the coming years. The vote was 4-0 to approve plans for the Deerfield II Wind Farm from Liberty Utilities, as three members of the planning commission had to recuse themselves from voting due to conflicts of interest. Chairman Keith Iseler and commission members Joanne Schulte and Jeff Phillips abstained because they are landowners in the proposed area . . . Complete story »
Huron Township hosting public hearing for new wind turbines
HURON TOWNSHIP – The Huron Township Planning Commission will be holding a special meeting and public hearing regarding an application for more wind turbines in the township. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 over the Zoom video conferencing application. The planning commission will consider whether to grant a special approval use permit for Liberty Power’s proposal for up to 21 new wind turbines, access roads, and underground electrical collection able network and other ancillary facilities. The . . . Complete story »
Pierson Township Board approves ‘restrictive’ wind ordinance
PIERSON TOWNSHIP – The Pierson Township Board approved a “restrictive” wind ordinance Tuesday night. The 3-1 vote to approve an amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance to provide for public utility facilities and wind energy conversion systems took place after a public hearing at which four people spoke. Pierson Township Supervisor Bill Van Til, Treasurer Kathy Hyrns and Trustee Melanie Gould voted in favor of the new wind ordinance while Clerk Sara Burkholder cast the lone opposing vote, saying she believes . . . Complete story »
The Windy County? Montcalm Township plans Dec. 2 public hearing on changes to wind energy rules
MONTCALM TOWNSHIP – As the question of whether Montcalm County should embrace or deny renewable wind energy is debated by its residents, local planners are taking steps to potentially clear the way for the construction of wind turbines. During Wednesday evening’s Montcalm Township Board meeting, Planning Commission Chairman Richard Karnatz informed the board that a public hearing will need to be scheduled to amend the township’s current “Private and Commercial Wind Energy Conversion Facilities” ordinance. “There will be a public hearing . . . Complete story »
