www.windaction.org

Oceana board rejects offshore wind proposal, with some disagreement
August 13, 2010 by Eric Gaertner in Muskegon Chronicle

The elected officials representing the northern portion of a proposed large-scale offshore wind development continue to say "no" to the plan. ...Many public forums were held since December in Oceana, Muskegon, Mason and Ottawa counties, and many people made passionate pleas, some for and more against, concerning the proposal.

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana County Board rejects Scandia Winds Offshore proposal
August 12, 2010 by Eric Gaertner in Muskegon Chronicle

Oceana County commissioners Thursday afternoon rejected the request by a private offshore wind turbine developer to move forward with extensive studies for a proposed installation off the Lake Michigan shoreline of Pentwater. On a 4-2 vote, the commissioners ended months of debate in Oceana County, including strong opposition from the Pentwater area.

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana County planners emphatic: No wind turbines on Lake Michigan
November 2, 2011 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

Nearly 16 months after the Oceana County Board of Commissioners rejected further action on a proposal for an industrial-scale wind farm on the waters of Lake Michigan, the county's planning commission released a report Tuesday that says the plan was "not feasible."

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana County Planning Commission urges rejection of Scandia’s proposed offshore wind farm
August 6, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

"The Oceana County Planning Commission does not endorse Scandia offshore studies or the proposed wind development off the northern Oceana County Lake Michigan coast," according to a resolution presented by Planning Commissioner Larry Byl, who is also on the county board. An offshore wind farm would be detrimental to recreational use of the lake, planners argued.

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana County wind farm meeting turns ugly, former lawmaker forced off stage
August 6, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

In a hot, overflowing middle school auditorium Wednesday, the Lake Michigan offshore wind debate turned ugly. Many of the more than 600 people who packed an Oceana County public information meeting on the Scandia Wind Offshore proposal for a wind farm 4 miles off Pentwater's shoreline shouted one of their own off the stage.

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana planners have questions for wind farm developers
April 5, 2010 by Kevin Braciszeski in Ludington Daily News

Many people have questions about proposals to build wind farms in Lake Michigan off the shore of Mason and Oceana counties, including Oceana County Planning Commission member David Roseman. Roseman drafted a list of 28 questions for the proposal's developers, which the commission asked them to answer in writing. The planning commission is now waiting for the answers before making a recommendation.

Also filed under [ General]

Oceana wind farm plans "kind of on hold"
February 26, 2007 by Brian Mulherin in Ludington Daily News

How is the proposed wind farm for Oceana County coming along? “It’s kind of on hold,” said Richard Vanderveen, president of Mackinaw Power. Vanderveen said his company has been “working like crazy the last four years to get the sites, the interconnects, get the wind studies …” and with those in hand, he’s waiting for Michigan to become the 25th state to approve an RPS, or Renewable Portfolio Standard. The move would ease some of the zoning issues that proposed wind farms are facing.

Also filed under [ General]

Official: Michigan's wind energy will 'die on the vine' without upgrade to state's electrical transmission system
April 21, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

Without a proper connection, wind energy in Michigan may be a moot point. That was the sobering message given Tuesday by the head of the state's electrical transmission company during the opening session of the 2010 Michigan Wind Energy Conference in Detroit's Cobo Hall. ...[ITC Holdings Inc. President and CEO Joe] Welch cautioned wind industry proponents that getting new high-voltage transmission lines sited, financed, permitted and constructed can take years.

Also filed under [ Transmission]

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Officials briefed on wind energy guidelines
May 27, 2007 by Sally Barber in Cadillac News

TUSTIN - Everything comes at a price. Nearly 50 township and county officials and landowners gathered in Tustin Wednesday to learn how jurisdictions could evaluate what the trade-offs are in bringing wind energy production to their communities. "Nothing we do for energy comes without a cost," said Mike Klepinger, Land Use Specialist for Michigan State University Extension. "We have to decide what kind of cost we are willing to pay."

Also filed under [ General| Zoning/Planning]

Officials look to zoning; Ordinances don’t address wind power
May 27, 2007 by Patrick Sullivan in Traverse City Record-Eagle

O'Shea, along with officials and planners from jurisdictions throughout northern Michigan, took part in a local seminar last week about how local governments can draft zoning ordinances tailored for small and large wind projects. The presentation was organized by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. Michael Klepinger, extension specialist with Michigan State University, said most jurisdictions in Michigan lack zoning ordinances that specifically address wind power.

Also filed under [ General| Zoning/Planning]

Officials support proposed tax on turbines
February 28, 2012 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

Wind companies pay personal property taxes for wind developments, and the taxable values are established by the Michigan Tax Commission. Those values decrease each year because of depreciation. And, per an October ruling, there will be a larger than previously established drop in values this year.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies]

Officials support proposed tax on turbines
February 28, 2012 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

Local governments are working under a tight deadline to develop a plan to substantiate what they believe are true taxable values for wind turbine developments. At the same time, they are throwing their support behind a special tax State Rep. Kurt E. Damrow has proposed for wind energy developments.

Officials: Keep control local; State could preempt local turbine requirements
November 19, 2009 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

In an interview Wednesday, Huron County Commissioner Kurt Damrow said Monday's public hearing is the last chance for local units of government, including townships that have control of their zoning and have a wind turbine ordinance, to speak to the State of Michigan in regard to maintaining local control over setback requirements and noise limitations for wind developments. "What's on the line is whether local units of government will have a say in zoning, specifically (regarding) setbacks and noise," Damrow said.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Impact on People]

Officials: No time for health study
August 12, 2009 by Kelly Jerome in Huron Daily Tribune

While the Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee had expressed hope a state university would take the lead on a comprehensive heath study on the effects of wind turbine noise, it learned last week it's unlikely. Before last week's meeting, several subcommittee members met with Dr. Alfred Franzblau, University of Michigan Environmental Health Sciences professor, via teleconference to discuss the possibility of a noise study.

Also filed under [ Impact on People]

Offshore wind company talking to Muskegon-area leaders
March 10, 2010 by Dave Alexander and Eric Gaertner in Muskegon Chronicle

The company planning a wind farm in Lake Michigan off Pentwater appears to be developing a much broader plan as Scandia Offshore Wind has a series of three meetings scheduled Monday in Muskegon. It is likely the Norwegian wind developers will suggest additional offshore wind farm locations for Lake Michigan waters in the Muskegon area. Yet, Scandia's interests in West Michigan also appear to be greater than wind farms on Lake Michigan.

Also filed under [ General]

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.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Offshore wind development won't hurt nor help local tourism industry, GVSU study concludes
June 9, 2011 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

The GVSU wind study points out some of the advantages of offshore wind versus more traditional onshore wind farms. The offshore advantages include more consistent and stronger winds, the proximity to large cities and energy customers, the ability to build larger wind turbines and locations that are away from residential areas. But offshore wind has major public acceptance issues, is more expensive to build and maintain and can negatively affect people's connection to the Great Lakes.

Also filed under [ Tourism]

Offshore wind farm developer scaling back plans
February 14, 2010 by Dave Alexander in Muskegon Chronicle

Norwegian developers are in the process of cutting their proposed Lake Michigan Aegir Offshore Wind Farm in half and moving it further from the Silver Lake State Park shoreline. Officials from Scandia Wind Offshore LLC say they are reacting to overwhelming negative reaction to the location of their original plan for a 1,000-megawatt, $3 billion wind farm.

Also filed under [ General]

Offshore wind farm proposal goes before Oceana Planning Commission
March 12, 2010 by Eric Gaertner in Muskegon Chronicle

Oceana County commissioners agreed Thursday to send the request from an offshore wind development group on to the county's planning commission for its input. Despite pressure from opponents of the proposed offshore wind farm to end the plan, commissioners decided to refer the memo from Scandia Wind to the planners for review, study and a recommendation.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Impact on People]