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.
Maple Valley Township Board tables wind ordinance
MAPLE VALLEY TOWNSHIP – The Maple Valley Township Board tabled a proposed wind ordinance Monday, followed by nearly an hour of passionate public comments. The township’s Planning Commission in April recommended the ordinance to the township board. The Montcalm County Planning Commission reviewed the ordinance on May 2 and made suggestions, including John Johansen recommending the removal of “Lmax” from the sound language, changing shadow flicker language to “occupied buildings” instead of from non-participating property lines, decreasing the three times tip . . . Complete story »
Delta County may pass zoning to townships
The county’s zoning ordinance lays out how properties can be used, sets zone-specific building requirements, and outlines restrictions for developments that could be considered nuisances or environmental hazards, such as wind farms, commercial dog kennels, and gas stations. If the ordinance were to be repealed, communities now under the county’s rules would have to develop their own zoning or accept that development would happen organically and without any protection for residents against the actions of their neighbors. Complete story »
Industrial wind turbines … the corruption of zoning
Industrializing rural counties with commercial wind turbines will deconstruct many aspects of country life, none so obvious as zoning. Zoning regulation exists to protect us from development infringing on adjacent property rights and values, as well as to preserve the essential nature of our communities by creating zones of like kind areas of development. Effective zoning promotes orderly development, harmonious with the nature of the community as a whole. To pretend industrial turbines are harmonious with agricultural farming in rural . . . Complete story »
Time to put wind issue to rest
I just finished the story on the “study” put together by the Upjohn Institute. You could say it could be construed as an advertisement for Apex Clean Energy instead of study. Anyone find it interesting that the author of this study has no dogs in the fight even though he was paid to write this study with funding by Apex? Sounds similar to lease holders being on township boards and not recusing themselves from decisions on turbine zoning issues even . . . Complete story »
Richland Township approves wind ordinance, skips county review
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP – A new wind energy ordinance approved by the Richland Township Board will take effect next week. The township board voted on March 3 to approve the ordinance and to send it to an attorney for final approval. The vote was unanimous with Supervisor Jody Penrod, Clerk Laurie Darmody, Treasurer Connie Marshall and trustees Scott Marshall and Cal Callison all voting “yes.” The township published notice of adoption of the ordinance in the April 13 issue of the Daily . . . Complete story »
Whitmer’s support of nuclear power shows how renewable energy has fallen short
Data from the Energy Information Agency show that Michigan is still depending much more on nuclear power than renewables. Complete story »
3 Douglass Township Board members sign letter as recall looms
“I will be signing the (recall) petition along with my husband,” [township resident Kim] Croy said. “You have proven yourselves unworthy of the elected position you currently hold and nothing you say at this point could mend the rift that you have created by being so arrogant to those who once trusted you.” “Thank you for the letter,” township resident Wendie Switala told the township board. “It really clarified a lot of things. “Stop it,” she told them. “Stop the flyers, stop the attorneys, do what you’re going to do because we’re going to referendum it (the wind ordinance) anyhow. So quit wasting the taxpayers’ money. Our time to vote is coming.” Complete story »
Montcalm County Planning Commission praises Winfield Township wind ordinance, recommends changes to Maple Valley Township ordinance
Leslie Rydahl of Pine Township also addressed Johansen. “There are a lot of people within Montcalm County that do not want to see our county end up like Gratiot or Isabella counties,” Rydahl said. “Mr. Johansen is simply reiterating the Apex preferred wind ordinance. I think what you’re failing to recognize is that you have a lot of people in your county who don’t want these at all. I understand a couple of you gentlemen are really, really for this project and there are a lot of people in Montcalm County who are taking offense to that. Complete story »
Benko elected, Welder recalled from Sidney Township Board
SIDNEY TOWNSHIP – The leader of a group “advocating against the irresponsible and invasive placement of industrial wind turbines and solar arrays in Montcalm County” was elected to the Sidney Township Board on Tuesday, ousting a trustee who supports a proposed wind farm and who voted against the township’s wind energy ordinance. Erik Benko received 389 votes in Tuesday’s recall election compared to incumbent Trustee Jed Welder who received 196 votes – a 63% to 32% margin. Sidney Township saw a 32% . . . Complete story »
Ill communication?
The Daily News contacted AT&T and Verizon to clarify the cell phone question, and those companies referred the Daily News to CTIA, a trade association that represents the U.S. wireless communications industry. “I am not familiar with this issue and have no information to share,” said Nick Ludlum, senior vice president and chief communications officer with CTIA. Complete story »
