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 reproduced here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind farm developers challenge township’s terms
Construction of a controversial wind farm project in southeastern Muskegon County is on hold while two legal challenges – including one from the developer – move forward. In April, Casnovia Township approved the special use permit for American Electric Power’s Kenowa Ridge Wind Energy Project in a 3-2 vote. But that wasn’t the end of it. “That special use approval was subject to several conditions,” township attorney Catherine Kaufman said Monday. “I believe it was over 30.” In May, the township laid . . . Complete story »
FAA rules new wind farm will pose ‘no hazard’ at Mt. Pleasant airport
The Federal Aviation Administration has informed the City of Mt. Pleasant that it does not think a new wind farm will pose a hazard at the local airport. Apex Clean Energy is in the midst of planning a large wind farm project in northern Isabella County. Some of the wind turbines will be near airports and landing strips in the county. Earlier this year, the FAA asked the operators of the airports to weigh in if they had any concerns. . . . Complete story »
Blade breaks off wind turbine in Garden Peninsula
A blade on a wind turbine in the Garden peninsula broke on Wednesday morning. According to Heritage Sustainable Energy, the safety features in the turbine engaged automatically and the turbine shut down immediately. Nobody was injured and Heritage says that they implemented their safety protocols and the area is secured. The team at Heritage is working to determine the cause of the break and the next steps to take to repair it. Heritage Sustainable Energy has been operating 14 wind . . . Complete story »
Anti turbine group frustrated with county commissioners
A representative from a local citizens group that is opposed to the siting of proposed wind turbines by DTE Energy in the northwestern part of Branch County expressed her frustrations to the Branch County Board of Commissioners Tuesday about the lack of movement to update the county’s Master Plan and the pursuit of a moratorium on special use permits. Pam Reed from Concerned Citizens of Branch County felt commissioners were giving her group silence after they made a recent presentation. . . . Complete story »
Editorial: Voters blow back on windmills
Environmental activists and some Democratic elected officials are pushing for an immediate shutdown of Line 5, the pipeline that carries petroleum products across the Straits of Mackinac. Many, including Attorney General Dana Nessel, reject the solution crafted by former Gov. Rick Snyder and Enbridge, which operates the pipeline, to bury it in a tunnel deep below the lake bed. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who vowed to shut down Line 5 on the campaign trail, has softened her position since taking office . . . Complete story »
Casnovia Twp. lays out new conditions for wind farm
The company planning to build a wind farm in Muskegon County now has 30 days to review new conditions attached to the special land use permit approved last month. The Casnovia Township Board laid out 32 conditions for American Electric Power during a meeting Monday night. The company must now review and accept the conditions or take the township to court over its original permit proposal. The project’s current plan calls for 31 turbines within the township’s 36 square miles, . . . Complete story »
Voters say ‘no’ to wind
L’ANSE TOWNSHIP – Voters defeated a L’Anse Township referendum to amend its zoning ordinance to allow wind energy projects on commercial forest land. The no vote garnered 315 residents (55 percent), while only 257 (45 percent) voted in favor of the amendment. The no vote overturns a zoning change passed by the L’Anse Township board in October to allow such developments. The vote comes a month after developer Renewable Energy Resources (RES) pulled out of a planned project for 49 wind . . . Complete story »
Controversial vote costs township supervisor his job
A controversial vote cost a Mid-Michigan township supervisor his job during a recall in May’s election. That vote involved wind farms and whether the township should put a stop them. A group of residents did not like the supervisor’s position and succeeded in removing him from office. “I was pleased. I was actually quite shocked to see the margin,” said Samuel Davidson, incoming supervisor for Kawkawlin Township in Bay County. Davidson will be the new township supervisor once the votes . . . Complete story »
Turbine rules headed to ballot without board say
ROGERS CITY – Voters in some portions of Presque Isle County will get to decide on Aug. 6 whether the county should keep its controversial ordinance that deals with wind turbines and solar energy. The ordinance adopted by the county Board of Commissioners in October established setbacks and height restrictions for industrial wind turbines, in addition to requirements pertaining to visual, lighting and power lines, that were not addressed in the previous ordinance. However, Moltke Township residents Mike and Stefani Schulte . . . Complete story »
Wind farm proposed for Muskegon/Kent counties border gets key approval
CASNOVIA TOWNSHIP, MI – A proposed wind farm project at the border of Muskegon and Kent counties has moved closer to reality. Casnovia Township’s approval of a special use permit was an important first step to move the project forward, but the approval came with several stipulations for the Ohio-based American Electric Power. Site plans for the project also need to be approved before the company can construct the sprawling wind farm. Several residents and township officials have been outspoken . . . Complete story »
