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.

The landscape of Bay County's Merritt Township could change drastically in less than two years. That's what worries Supervisor Dave Schabel. A Florida company is eyeing Merritt and three townships in Tuscola County for development of a 66-turbine commercial wind park. ..."I don't think you can make everybody happy. It would alter the landscape for generations to come. It would alter the way of life around here for years to come."

A publicly owned wind turbine along M-72 in Leelanau County's Elmwood Township is out of commission. A generator bearing failed and the turbine ground to a halt, said Ed Rice, Traverse City Light & Power's executive director. The windmill has been broken for about six weeks.

Officials announced last week that the Michigan Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing later this month to garner public comment on the effect of wind turbine setback requirements and noise limitations under local zoning or other ordinances on wind energy development in wind energy resource zones. The hearing is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23 at the MPSC's office.

Will the wind someday carry water from Lake Michigan to Grand Rapids water customers? It will if Grand Rapids officials put together a $15 million proposal to build two wind turbines on land the city owns next door to its Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant. ...But the proposal to install two turbines up to 300 feet tall will require an ordinance amendment and could be unpopular with those who own cottages nearby.

A road in Missaukee County was closed for several hours Sunday afternoon and three homes were evacuated as a safety precaution after construction workers became concerned about the stability of a newly-installed 400-foot wind turbine. ...[the homes] were still evacuated out of an abundance of caution in terms of possible flying debris.

The Whitehall Planning Commission is going back to the drawing board in preparing an ordinance to regulate development of renewable energy sources within the city. The planners came to that conclusion following its regular monthly meeting, Oct. 6, which mostly was filled with discussion about a draft ordinance first presented to the board in August. ...Now, planners may not hold a hearing before the end of the year.

The proposed wind turbine regulations are being sent back for a "do-over." After listening to citizens' input, the city council decided not to vote on a proposed new ordinance which would have regulated the construction and operation of wind energy conversion devices to capture the energy of moving air and turn it into electricity.

When Michigan and Muskegon pooled every incentive package they could tap, the lure still was not strong enough to land the first factory for homegrown wind-turbine company WindTronics, LLC. Instead, WindTronics turbines will be produced by 174 Canadian workers in an old Magna International auto-seating plant in Windsor, Ontario, helped by a $2.7 million up-front provincial grant. Production in the $5.4 million facility will begin as early as January. Early access to cash made the difference, WindTronics President Reg Adams said.

Are wind turbines the energy of the future? Due to the increasing popularity of residential wind turbines, the Fenton Planning Commission is creating an ordinance and guidelines for wind turbines. This was discussed by commissioners at their meeting last week.

Following a public hearing on Wednesday, the Huron County Planning Commission approved a zoning ordinance amendment recommendation to add a complaint resolution section to the county's wind overlay zoning provisions. "It's up to them now," said Huron County Planning Commission Chairman Ted Sheldon, referring to the Huron County Board of Commissioners. Russ Lundberg, Huron County Building and Zoning director, explained the recommendation will be sent to the Huron County Board of Commissioners for adoption, rejection or modification.

Currently, there are no wind turbines generating electricity in Grand Ledge, and there are none planned. But, when and if someone decides to build one, the city plans to be ready. "The primary reason the Planning Commission wanted to proceed was to have something in place to protect the public should somebody choose to put in a wind conversion device," said Grand Ledge Mayor Kalmin Smith.

A draft Renewable Energy Source ordinance submitted to the City Planning Commission at its meeting Aug. 4, is on the planners' agenda on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. ...Helmlinger said the city is concerned about the safety and aesthetics of wind turbines and solar panels mounted on roofs of homes. The ordinance will control design and installation of wind turbines, including visual appearance, and will limit its height. The noise level is limited, and shadow flicker from the turbine blades must be minimized.

In the Champagne household, there are two opinions on the whirling wind turbines that surround the family's home of 35 years. Gene Champagne is bothered by the thumping, rumbling sound of the blades that loom like giants over the house. The noise disturbs his sleep and destroys his TV reception. Flickering shadows from sun on the blades run around rooms. ...Opponents say tighter restrictions are needed. The wind industry says tougher rules will keep wind farms out of Michigan.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has dreams of bringing as many as 4,000 wind turbines to Michigan, making it the nation's 14th windiest state and a major player in wind power to attract green jobs and investment. But some people who have turbines as neighbors are pushing back against the winds of change, the Detroit Free Press reported Sunday.

The Lake Township Board voted 3 to 2 to remove Planning Commission Chairman Louis J. Colletta and Planning Commission Member Tim Lalley from the local planning commission. ..."Don't do it to these volunteers, they'll suspect you'll do it to other volunteers," said Lake Township Resident Paul Miller. It was argued that this was being done because of the township's on-going effort to create a wind turbine ordinance, as Lalley and Colletta have been extremely protective of the township from wind turbine development.

Over the objections of land owners in the county, the Winona County Board has voted to move forward with a plan to develop a wind turbine project and sell its power to Exel Energy. Everyone at the public hearing agreed that clean renewable energy is a good thing, but many questioned the appropriateness of the county becoming a business owner of wind energy rather than a facilitator for its county residents to do so.

After hearing from several dozen Michigan residents about the benefits and drawbacks of wind turbines, a state panel said it wants more information about the best places to build wind energy parks. The Wind Energy Resource Zone Board has tentatively identified four regions in the state.

Representatives from BP appeared before the Montague Township board last Tuesday evening to discuss the township's wind turbine ordinance. Stephen Pulich, business developer for BP Alternative Energy, is heading up the effort to put a wind farm in the area. BP purchased the assets of Okemos-based Wind Energy Conversions last December. Pulich said BP is considering a wind farm in the area of Claybanks, Grant and Montague townships.

One of the primary goals of the Huron County Wind Energy Subcommittee is to help create a complaint resolution procedure, so those who are experiencing issues with wind turbine parks can expect a swift response and resolution. A draft of this process, introduced at last week's subcommittee meeting, currently is being reviewed. ...The draft details the channels through which complaints can be made, what happens if a complaint is not resolved in a timely fashion, and actions that can be taken by the county board of commissioners if deemed necessary.