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County keeps wind energy request up in air
April 25, 2013 by Kelly Taylor-Jerome in Huron County View

The County Board of Commissioners decided to send a message regarding wind energy projects in the county by opting not to act on a request to release from 26.311 acres in Windsor Township PA 116 for the purpose of building an energy substation planned for the Thumb Loop.

Michigan Proposal 3: Voters reject 25 by 25 renewable energy mandate
November 7, 2012 by Melissa Anders in MLIVE

Voters rejected Proposal 3, opting not to put the renewable energy mandate in the state’s constitution. Opposition group Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) for Michigan claimed victory in defeating the proposal that it said would lead to higher electric bills. It made the call at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters to decide fate of Michigan renewable energy mandate with Proposal 3
October 22, 2012 by Mark Ranzenberger in The News-Herald

Proposal 3 would enshrine in Michigan's Constitution a requirement that a full 25 percent of Michigan's electricity be produced by "clean, renewable electric energy sources." Such sources could include wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power and biomass fuels.

Is Michigan's constitution the right place for energy policy?
October 19, 2012 by Dan Faber in Midwest Energy News

Opponents, led by a group that has received millions of dollars from the state's two large investor-owned utilities, say it's inappropriate to use the state constitution to make energy policy, and that, if passed, the amendment could lock the state into wind power for decades, limiting Michigan's future energy options in a rapidly changing industry. ..."Make no mistake, this is a wind proposal."

Unions, Dems split on renewable energy ballot issue at Michigan convention
September 9, 2012 by Chad Livengood in Detroit News

The ballot campaign suffered a setback when construction and utility unions protested inclusion of the initiative in the Michigan Democratic Party's 2012 platform, arguing that mandating more solar and wind power could lead to fewer union jobs at coal-burning power plants.

Renewable energy standards don't belong in state constitution, opponents say
August 26, 2012 by Charles Crumm in The Oakland Press

"Particularly on energy policy, it is absolutely critical to have flexibility to respond to changing circumstances over time," says Ken Sikkema, a former Michigan Republican Senate majority leader, who recently met with The Oakland Press editorial board. ...there is already a renewable energy standard of 10 percent, established by the state Legislature.

Competing groups debate constitutional amendment to raise standard for renewable energy
July 1, 2012 by Zlati Meyer in Detroit Free Press

But opponents -- including utilities, business people and union officials -- say it'll end up costing them and their customers that same $10 billion in higher business costs and rates. This camp says legislation, not the state Constitution, is the proper route for changing the standard, the same method used for the current 10% standard.

Consumers Energy, DTE Energy speak out against renewable energy ballot proposal
June 27, 2012 by Melissa Anders in Michigan Live

Major utility companies, along with other business and labor leaders, are organizing a campaign against a ballot proposal to increase Michigan’s renewable energy standards. ...If the state’s utilities used wind turbines to meet the proposed requirement, it would take 3,100 turbines at the cost of $12 billion.

Debate over renewable energy ballot issue heats up
June 23, 2012 by Kathy Barks Hoffman in Michigan Live

The measure pits "green" Michigan manufacturers such as Power Panel Inc. and Dow Chemical Co. against coal and natural gas suppliers and Michigan businesses that fear the move could mean higher electric rates.

Group rallies against push for unproven alternative energy
June 23, 2012 by Jack Spencer in Michigan Capitol Confidential

Opponents of government mandated renewable energy are coming to the event to protest the blind push for renewable energy and hand out information showing that most wind energy is a farce. "Wind energy is just the latest incarnation of big industry and big government working hand-in-taxpayers-pocket to fatten their own wallets while the common person picks up their tab."

Wind energy debate shifts to Ogden and Palmyra townships
November 11, 2011 by Erik Gable in The Daily Telegram

With the approval in Riga Township of a wind turbine ordinance that wind power supporters say effectively bans turbines in the township, the wind energy debate now shifts to Ogden and Palmyra townships. In Ogden Township, which does not have zoning, the township board will be discussing a police powers ordinance to regulate turbines.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning]

Officials asking state to slow down on offshore wind turbines
January 16, 2011 by Amy Biolchini in Times Herald

Sanilac County officials are part of an ad hoc group of municipal leaders from across Michigan's Thumb that is urging the state to go slow on legislation calling for offshore wind turbines in Lake Huron. "We were not familiar with or notified of the bill," said Carl Osentoski of Ubly, who launched the Thumb Regional Energy Collaborative Group in summer 2010.

State Sen. Birkholz: Offshore wind legislation unlikely this year
December 5, 2010 by Peter Daining in The Holland Sentinel

Rules for regulating offshore wind farms likely will blow over to next year. State Sen. Patty Birkholz of Saugatuck has been working on the legislation for the past year, but says the legislature didn't have time to act on it during its lame duck session, which concluded this week.

Offshore wind debated, but statewide rules will have to wait
December 1, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

When offshore wind farms have been discussed along the lakeshore, the debate has centered on how the turbines would look and whether they would kill birds. Testimony was taken on comprehensive offshore wind turbine legislation, which seems destined to remain in committee as the Michigan Legislature ends its term this week.

House panel will discuss wind turbines
November 25, 2010 by Tina Lam and Tresa Baldas in The Detroit Free Press

Legislation that would pave the way for wind power in the Great Lakes is scheduled for its first hearing Tuesday in the state House Energy and Technology Committee.

Eligible voters to decide county Props 1 & 2
November 3, 2010 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

The Huron County Board of Commissioners approved the two amendments in July, but they now are up for a vote of residents in the county's zoning jurisdiction because a petition was filed to get the amendments on Tuesday's ballot. The two proposals, if approved by the majority of eligible voters, would not automatically approve wind developments.

Resident wants wind vote for people
July 16, 2010 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

The daughter of the Sigel Township resident who earlier this week filed a notice of intent to get a proposal on the November ballot asking voters whether two new wind districts should be created in Huron County, said Friday her mother's motive is to give the people a say in this issue.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning]

Legislators urge governors to withdraw from Regional Climate Initiative
May 6, 2010 in American Legislative Exchange Council

Today, state Rep. Tom McMillin of Michigan introduced a resolution (H.R. 277) urging his state's governor to withdraw Michigan from continued participation in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MGGRA), an agreement among the region's governors to reduce greenhouse gases through a regional cap-and-trade program. ...nearby participating states intend to introduce similar measures in their own legislatures.

Also filed under [ Iowa| Illinois| Kansas| Minnesota| Wisconsin]

Granholm urges regulations for wind farm industry
April 22, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's support of offshore wind development in Michigan is clear. The governor has embraced locating huge utility-scale wind turbines offshore on some of the 38,000 square miles of Michigan's Great Lakes bottomlands. ...She acknowledged being term-limited and leaving the governor's office at the end of December. She said she wants offshore wind policies and regulations in place before the end of her term.

Experts: Power grid is nearly maxed out
April 21, 2010 by Kelly Jerome and Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

The ‘Green Thumb' isn't going to get much greener unless some key things are addressed in the future. The area's transmission grid has to be upgraded in order to support any new wind development, said experts at the Michigan Wind Energy Conference at Cobo Hall in Detroit.

Also filed under [ Transmission]

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