Wind Power News: Michigan
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
After losing big in township votes, turbine companies seek state preemption of local rules
Wind energy businesses are targeting local zoning ordinances after their campaign to coat Michigan with large vertical turbines lost four referenda and seven local government allies in this month’s election. “You ever hear that old saying about winning a battle, but losing the war? Now seems like an appropriate time to reflect on that,” Apex Clean Energy’s senior development manager Albert Jongewaard wrote in an email, after voters throughout Montcalm County rejected wind energy supporters and ballot initiatives. “It’s no . . . Complete story »
Consumers Energy seeks “crippling” wind farm tax clawbacks from Tuscola County schools
Some Tuscola County school districts say they’re regretting their decision to enter into tax revenue agreements with Consumers Energy after the utility sought tax clawbacks related to wind turbine depreciation. Consumers Energy is suing more than a hundred schools, townships, and social service groups in Tuscola County, seeking about $8 million in tax clawbacks. More than a decade ago, the districts and other groups agreed to allow Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and standalone wind energy companies like Next Energy to . . . Complete story »
Voters defeat Michigan wind energy project, toss supportive officials
Trufant, MI – Rural voters delivered a crushing blow to plans for a 375 megawatt wind farm in mid-Michigan, where several local renewable energy ordinances were defeated across three townships and multiple officials were thrown from office for supporting the project. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, midterm voters resoundingly rejected ordinances enabling the Montcalm Wind project by Apex Clean Energy, a developer attempting to erect 75 turbines on farmland in Montcalm County northeast of Grand Rapids. Zoning ordinances in Maple Valley, Douglass . . . Complete story »
Experts question environmental and economic value of wind power
Wind farms continue to pop up like mushrooms across Michigan’s landscape, and with them, plenty of backlash from energy, economic and environmental public policy experts. Michigan ranks 15th for total wind generation nationwide, according to a 2021 study released by Commodity.com, which was updated last May. The study reports wind provides 8% of the total electricity consumed by the nation’s homes, government entities and businesses, while contributing 7% to Michigan’s electricity grid. While proponents tout the environmental benefits of wind . . . Complete story »
Leeward Renewable Energy working to bring wind facility to Ionia County
A Canadian-owned developer is continuing to work on bringing a wind turbine facility to Ionia County, a project which has been pending for well over a decade now. Leeward Renewable Energy confirmed with the Daily News that the company is still actively working on the project. “Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) is developing a wind facility in the Ionia County area, which will bring additional energy generation, construction jobs and other anticipated long-term economic benefits to the community,” Leeward said in . . . Complete story »
Wind, solar-related recalls now pending in Cato and Belvidere townships
Four more officials in two more townships are now facing recalls related to their votes on wind and solar energy ordinances. Cato Township Supervisor Larry Gilbert, Clerk Todd Lincoln and Trustee Jourdan Lindsay are all facing a recall attempt after they voted to approve their township’s proposed wind energy ordinance, while Belvidere Township Supervisor John Anderson is also facing a recall attempt for his votes regarding his township’s wind and solar ordinances. A recall clarity hearing for both matters is . . . Complete story »
Developer sues Fulton Township over wind plan veto
Chicago-based Invenergy has filed a lawsuit in Gratiot County Circuit Court on behalf of the Heartland Farms Wind Project claiming Fulton Township violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when it denied a special land use permit that would have allowed the company to build 12 wind turbines in the township. Five other townships that are part of the proposed 72-turbine wind farm – Newark, New Haven, North Shade, North Star and Washington – have all approved the project. On April . . . Complete story »
Cato Township concerns
Arrogant, uneducated and stubborn are what the majority of the Cato Township Board proved themselves to be when they took a wrecking ball to the carefully crafted safe wind ordinance their Planning Commission developed as a result of over 1 1/2 years of intense study and personal sacrifice. Not only was it a contemptible act of disrespect of their planning commission, but to the Cato citizenry as well, who supported the original PC ordinance by at least a 10-1 ratio at . . . Complete story »
Montcalm Twp. shakes up Planning Commission
The topic stems from allegations that Karnatz operated in his capacity as Planning Commission chairman with a conflict of interest because he failed to disclose previous arrangements with Apex Clean Energy, including signing “steering committee” and lease agreement documents, dating back to November 2019, while subsequently leading the Planning Commission as it worked on amending the township’s wind energy ordinance. As a result of the lease agreement, Karnatz has received compensation from Apex, leading several residents to allege a conflict of interest as he was also working to amend ordinances that could potentially affect the very turbines that could eventually be constructed on Karnatz’s property. Complete story »
Douglass Township Board approves referendum wording for 2 wind ordinances
DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP – The Douglass Township Board voted at a special meeting Monday evening to place two wind energy ordinances on the November general election ballot after voters gathered enough signatures to referendum both ordinances. “The reason we’re here tonight is basically so we can get these referendums on the ballot in November,” Supervisor Terry Anderson said during the 10-minute meeting, which didn’t feature any public comment. Clerk Ronda Snyder read the resolution aloud and the board then voted 4-0 to . . . Complete story »
