News
Category:
Michigan
When taken in total the restrictions make it highly unlikely that a commercial wind energy conversion system could set up operation in Marshall County.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
DTE replacing broken blade; Still no reason for turbine accident
May 3, 2013 by Nich Wolak in Huron Daily Tribune
May 3, 2013 by Nich Wolak in Huron Daily Tribune
Scott L. Simons, DTE Energy spokesman, previously told the Tribune that the utility received an alarm at 1 a.m., and later found that one of the blades at the Sigel site appeared to be damaged. Part of a blade had fallen and was on the ground. ...Last year, two GE-manufactured turbines experienced broken blades in East Central Illinois.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Structural Failure]
Lawsuit alleges wind turbines have caused harm
April 30, 2013 by Brian Mulherin in Ludington Daily News
April 30, 2013 by Brian Mulherin in Ludington Daily News
Residents living near wind turbines in Lake Winds Energy Park filed suit earlier this month in 51st Circuit Court and are seeking a jury trial for their case. ...The plaintiffs in the suit allege the wind farm has caused them physiological and monetary harm and will continue to do so if allowed to continue operations.
Also filed under [
Impact on People]
DNR: Windmills can pose threat to birds, bat populations
April 26, 2013 by Chris Lamphere in Cadillac News
April 26, 2013 by Chris Lamphere in Cadillac News
"The relationship between turbine development and bird death caused by collision with blades is predictable," Cleveland said. "If a lot of birds are known to move through an area and a developer decides to put up a windmill in that area, it's safe to say a lot of those birds would be killed by blades. Wind developers have to be careful about this."
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife]
County keeps wind energy request up in air
April 25, 2013 by Kelly Taylor-Jerome in Huron County View
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.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
"With the instability, uncertainty and lack of direction related to the issues pertaining to wind energy throughout the State, the Huron County Board of Commissioners will not schedule any additional wind turbine action on the Board's agenda until there is resolution to these issues," the letter states.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Zoning/Planning]
Akron, Fairgrove discuss ‘Tuscola Wind II' development project
April 20, 2013 by Mary Drier in Tuscola County Advertiser
April 20, 2013 by Mary Drier in Tuscola County Advertiser
The Akron Township Planning Commission and also the Fairgrove Planning Commission each held a hearing this week on NextEra Energy Resources' proposed "Tuscola Wind II" development in those two townships.
Also filed under [
Ordinances]
Lawsuit alleges wind power; A threat to health and safety
April 16, 2013 by Jack Spencer in Michigan Capitol Confidential
April 16, 2013 by Jack Spencer in Michigan Capitol Confidential
"We've now moved our beds to the basement in a storage room," Shineldecker said. "After living in my house for 18 years, [we're sleeping] in a storage room on an air mattress so I can try to sleep . . . so my lovely wife can get up and go and try to teach second graders and be awake in the morning.
"We have been up multiple, multiple nights and cannot sleep."
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Noise]
Local ordinances stall wind farm projects in Michigan
April 14, 2013 by Jim Lynch in The Detroit News
April 14, 2013 by Jim Lynch in The Detroit News
In January, the company cleared one regulatory hurdle when it received a land-use permit from Clinton County. But in the months prior, each of the three townships passed ordinances that could hinder Forest Hill's efforts to begin construction before the end of the year.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Consumers Energy: Mason County wind farm meets permit requirements; flicker being fixed
April 9, 2013 by John S. Hausman in Michigan Live
April 9, 2013 by John S. Hausman in Michigan Live
Consumers Energy Co. officials say the company is working to address some of the concerns of neighbors of the Lake Winds Energy Park wind farm - in particular, "shadow flicker" -- although the company says the wind farm already meets all permit requirements.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Noise]
Suit challenges townships' powers in $120M wind project
April 9, 2013 by Steven R. Reed in Lansing State Journal
April 9, 2013 by Steven R. Reed in Lansing State Journal
The developer of a proposed 39-tower, $120 million wind energy project is suing to prevent three Clinton County townships from enforcing special ordinances that restrict turbines' height, noise, setbacks and shadow flicker beyond the terms specified in the county's zoning ordinance.
Also filed under [
General]
Wind turbine sound limit should be increased in Emmet County
April 8, 2013 by Brandon Hubbard in Petoskey News
April 8, 2013 by Brandon Hubbard in Petoskey News
County officials have been looking at what revisions might be needed to its 2009 wind energy systems ordinance -- capping wind turbine sound at 35 decibels -- to be defendable in court. Turbine developers have called the limit "exclusionary zoning" that essentially eliminates energy systems, compared to the 55-decibel state of Michigan guideline.
Also filed under [
Noise|
Zoning/Planning]
Mason County wind farm neighbors sue Consumers Energy, claim physical harm from Lake Winds Energy Park
April 8, 2013 by John S. Hausman in Michigan Live
April 8, 2013 by John S. Hausman in Michigan Live
The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs will continue to suffer harm, including physical injury, emotional distress and loss of property value if they continue to be exposed to the wind farm's operation.
The $250 million Lake Winds Energy Park development generates 100.8 megawatts of electricity. Its Vestas turbines are 312 feet high at the hub, with rotor blades having a 328-foot diameter.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Noise]
A group of homeowners living near Consumers Energy wind turbines in Riverton and Summit townships are currently suing the company for damages they say are caused by operating the turbines.
There are 17 people who have joined as plaintiffs in the case, which was filed Monday. ...The 56-turbine park began operations on Thanksgiving Day 2012.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Noise]
A wind turbine plant has closed just months after announcing a $2.5 million expansion and plans to add 90 workers. Ron McNees, co-owner of the plant's parent company, blamed the closing on the ongoing struggles with green energy.
It joins a list of other faltering or failed green projects.
Also filed under [
General]
Still no word on what caused turbine blade to break
March 16, 2013 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
March 16, 2013 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
Officials said Friday that there isn't any new information indicating why a wind turbine blade broke off early Monday morning during a low-wind period at DTE Energy's Thumb Wind Park. ...Last year, two GE-manufactured turbines experienced broken blades in East Central Illinois.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Structural Failure]
For now, wind power will stay out of Reading Township.
That was the decision of residents of Reading, a township 11 miles southwest of Hillsdale, in a referendum on Feb. 26, the vote followed a long, fierce debate over Duke Energy's proposed Hillsdale Windpower Project.
Also filed under [
General]
The power purchase agreement with the MPPA for 16.8 MW of wind generation will start out at less than 4.5 cents per kwh and escalate at 2.5 percent per year over the course of 20 years. The HBPW anticipates Holland will start receiving energy through this contract by August 2014.
Also filed under [
General]
DTE investigates broken turbine blade; Turbine blade breaks early Monday morning.
March 12, 2013 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
March 12, 2013 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune
DTE Energy has no idea why a portion of a wind turbine blade broke off early Monday morning during a low-wind period at one of the utility's sites in the Thumb Wind Park.
"This matter certainly is under investigation," said Scott L. Simons, DTE Energy spokesman.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Structural Failure]
The changes to the wind project ordinance were brought to a special election after township residents filed a petition to have the changes put up for a vote with a referendum.
Alan Jon Burrell, Reading Township supervisor said the special election will give everyone in Reading Township to weigh in on the wind farm ordinance.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
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