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.
Townships’ wind turbine tax appeals going to Court of Appeals
The next chapter in Huron County’s wind turbine taxation troubles has started. Bloomfield and Sigel Townships have filed a new extensive appeal brief in the Michigan Court of Appeals against its ruling that it owed back taxes to DTE over wind turbines. The Michigan Tax Tribunal issued an opinion and judgement in June in favor of DTE, which had sued to lower its tax commitments to the townships, county, and school districts. It was the first such commercial wind turbine . . . Complete story »
Daily News FOIA of Pine Township reveals wind energy thoughts from 3 law firms
PINE TOWNSHIP – When the Pine Township supervisor recommended in September to hire a specific law firm to handle wind energy ordinance-related work, the decision appeared to have been all but finalized days earlier. Meanwhile, the attorney for the law firm that Pine Township later actually voted to hire shared candid thoughts about “the growing debate in communities across Michigan and around the country about the extent to which municipalities can and should regulate through zoning the construction and operation of . . . Complete story »
The nays have it: Stanton Township survey finds 83% opposed to wind turbines; planning commission idea to go to referendum
STANTON TOWNSHIP – Stanton Township voters opposed wind turbine projects by a large margin in survey results announced Wednesday, months before they will likely head to the polls to formally vote on creating a planning commission that could write a zoning ordinance restricting the turbines. About 83% of the 384 voters who responded to the survey were against the turbines, Township Supervisor Marty Rajala announced Wednesday. The board decided in August to send the survey to every registered voter in the . . . Complete story »
Townships remain against windmills
A fight continues between Stanton and Adams Twp. residents against Circle Power over the development of 12 industrial wind turbines in Adams Twp. The Guardians of the Keweenaw Ridge, a non-profit has been assisting the townships in education and outreach to help block the developers. During Wednesday’s Stanton Twp. board meeting it was revealed that out of a survey of 384 residents, 83% oppose windmill development. The survey results came in only days after Circle Power, a Royal Oak Company, . . . Complete story »
Circle Power shifts turbine project: all 12 now planned for Adams Twp.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP – Circle Power is amending its Scotia Wind project to put all 12 proposed turbines in Adams Township. The project had been planned to include four 575-foot turbines in Adams Township and eight more in Stanton Township. Adams Township has a police powers ordinance regulating wind turbines, with a setback of 3,000 feet. Stanton Township is still developing an ordinance. Based on how things were progressing in Stanton Township, a similar setback would be in place there, said Circle . . . Complete story »
Circle Power amends its wind farm plans
Circle Power executive Chris Moore said his company intends to double the number of wind turbines in its development proposal for Adams Township at a Monday meeting of the Board of Trustees. Originally, four were slotted for the municipality with another eight set for neighboring Stanton Township. The Stanton sites have been withdrawn, at least temporarily. Adams Township Supervisor Gerald Heikkinen revealed to the board that a Freedom of Information Act request had been filed by the Varnum Law Firm . . . Complete story »
New legislation would set wind turbine tax table
An end may be coming soon to the numerous wind turbine taxation lawsuits across Michigan, and the solution is coming from the state Legislature. Two separate bills introduced in both the state House of Representatives and Senate, if passed, would institute an applicable multiplier for how wind turbines are taxed, setting a standard depreciation table across the state. The legislation has turbines taxed at 100% of their value for their first tax year, and their value will decrease by 5% . . . Complete story »
Cato Township Board tables hiring wind attorney, hears more calls for recusal
The Cato Township Planning Commission earlier this month paused working on a wind ordinance to seek legal advice amid residents repeatedly voicing conflict of interest concerns. The Cato Township Board voted on Sept. 13 to table the Planning Commission’s Sept. 8 request for legal counsel and to not allow them to have any more wind meetings until an attorney has been retained. [rest of article available at source] Complete story »
Bloomer Township Planning Commission tweaking wind turbine noise limits
BLOOMER TOWNSHIP – The Bloomer Township Planning Commission is working with their attorney to make turbine sound limits more restrictive in their pending wind ordinance. Chairman Doug Proctor and planners John Dennis, Ed Hagerman, Craig Keiffer, Mark Ryan and Gail Witter were all present for Tuesday’s meeting while Secretary Tara Chapko (who is also a township board member) was absent. Only five people were in the audience (including this reporter and two township officials) and no public comments were given. The . . . Complete story »
Bloomer Township Planning Commission tweaking wind turbine noise limits
The Bloomer Township Planning Commission is working with their attorney to make turbine sound limits more restrictive in their pending wind ordinance. [rest of article available at source] Complete story »
