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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Questions raised on county zoning
BRANCH COUNTY – Branch County Administrator Bud Norman said he will bring in experts to discuss a proposed wind turbine ordinance which will go before the rarely used Branch County Planning Commission when it meets at 9 a.m. Dec. 12. After losing the election to force Union Township to adopt a zoning code, Concerned Citizens of Branch County asked County Commissioners to create a county wide wind turbine zoning ordinance. The planning group would have to act on the request first. . . . Complete story »
Official promises ‘complete investigation’ into broken turbine
BAD AXE – County planners heard from a wind turbine representative this week regarding a recent blade failure. During Wednesday’s Huron County Planning Commission meeting, Blake Shroll, site manager of Big Turtle Wind Farm, told planners Big Turtle II experienced a failure on Tower 14 on Nov. 28. “We had two pieces of fiber glass fall within 100 feet of the base. No one was injured in the incident and no other property damages had occurred,” Shroll said. “We have done . . . Complete story »
An audacious goal for Leelanau County
Northport Energy was founded a decade ago with a singular mission: to make the tip of Leelanau County completely green. The group hasn’t gotten there yet, but it’s had some significant achievements. Members have helped establish one of the first “net zero” golf courses in the country. They’ve seen a wind turbine installed to help power the town’s wastewater treatment facility. And they’ve set up renewable projects across the Village of Northport and Leelanau Township. Upon their 10th anniversary, they . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine blade near Port Hope failed early this morning – pics
Investigation will begin by company officials after a wind turbine blade failure early this (Wed) morning in Bloomfield Township, west of Port Hope. Huron County Building and Zoning Director Jeff Smith said that the blade failed early this morning in the Big Turtle Wind Farm. Turbine 14 is located off of Minden Road, north of Dobson Road. Operations Manager of Heritage Sustainable Energy and the turbine manufacturer secured the area, and the investigation into the cause of the failure will . . . Complete story »
Contentious commission meeting in L’Anse
L’ANSE – Another meeting of the L’Anse township planning commission grew contentious on Wednesday night, as members of the Friends of the Huron Mountains (FOHM) pressed the commission for answers to questions about the proposed wind farm, the Summit Lake Wind Project. At the beginning of public comment, someone from the group stood to inquire about the publishing of board minutes. According to the Open Meetings Act, proposed meeting minutes should be available to the public within eight days of the . . . Complete story »
Signatures could force wind turbines to ballot
ROGERS CITY – Stefanie and Mike Schulte managed to collect enough signatures to petition the Presque Isle County Zoning Ordinance 2 pertaining to the installation of wind turbines. If the signatures are validated, their petition will put the ordinance on the ballot during the next election. The Schultes are Moltke Township residents who found out about the potential installation of wind turbines after a neighbor alerted them to a township meeting. Stefani Schulte said that, when she went to the township . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine foes ask for county wide ordinance
BRANCH COUNTY – After losing the election to force Union Township to adopt a zoning code, Concerned Citizens of Branch County urged Branch County Commissioners, at its Tuesday meeting, to create a county wide wind turbine zoning ordinance. With over two dozen supporters in attendance, Anna Keim told the board, “we are concerned that Union Township, with no zoning in place, would have dire consequences with regard to the health, safety and welfare of its residents, but particularly those who have . . . Complete story »
L’Anse wind project gets zone change
L’ANSE – Zoning ordinance changes concerning wind turbines dominated the discussion Monday at a meeting of the L’Anse Township Board. The new ordinance, which passed by a 4-1 vote, allows for a waiver of setback requirements on wind turbines between participating properties. Under the old ordinance, a setback of at least 1.5 times the total height of a turbine is required, even on property lines between participating properties. A participating property is defined by the ordinance as one that is part . . . Complete story »
Commissioners hear plea for help in fighting turbines
Residents from Union Township and from other parts of northwestern Branch County jammed their way into the Board of Commissioners meeting room Tuesday afternoon to once again ask the county to help them in their fight against DTE Energy’s plans to put in wind turbines. The group Concerned Citizens of Branch County is asking the County to intervene on their behalf especially after an effort they supported to have the Union Township Board adopt an ordinance that would have created . . . Complete story »
Voters to decide on wind project
L’ANSE TOWNSHIP – Canvassers from the Friends of the Huron Mountains (FOHM) group turned over 400 signatures to Clerk Brian Jentoft on Friday. The petition calls for holding a referendum on recent changes to the township zoning ordinance previously approved by the board. The changes would allow for wind turbines to be built in the Forest Resource District-zoned areas of L’Anse Township as part of the Summit Lake Wind Project proposed by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) on Weyerhaeuser property in the . . . Complete story »
