The suit essentially claims a systematic effort has been underway to “kill” the planned Tuscola III project, starting with the formation of the Ellington-Almer Township Concerned Citizens (EATCC) group, continuing with the election of several group members last November, and culminating with a one-year moratorium on wind projects and denial of special-land use permit (SLUP) by the board in January.

Legal Michigan

Contention over wind development started in 2011 when the Michigan Tax Commission (STC) arbitrarily changed the taxing methodology and depreciation on wind turbines. The change lowered taxable values on turbines along with a faster depreciation rate.

Taxes & Subsidies Michigan

UPPER THUMB — Under a voluntary program by DTE Energy, customers can “reduce their carbon footprint” by contributing to the company’s green energy costs.

General Michigan

​In the past two months, two rural Michigan counties have adopted one-year moratoriums on wind development, though they appear to be in vastly different positions when it comes to regulatory experience.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

An Apex spokesman said his company is still interested in building a wind farm despite personnel changes and no contact with area townships in months.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Tuscola County commissioners are discounting over a year of contentious meetings, legal wrangling, and turnover of two township boards as a matter of personality differences, calling it a situation similar to the “Hatfields and McCoys” that’s hurting the county financially.

Taxes & Subsidies Michigan

The Almer Township board of trustees denied an application for special land use permit that would have cleared the way for a Florida-based energy company to erect 19 wind turbines in the community.

General Michigan

Gauger said it’s been determined that the “old style” keyway pitch motor is “defective” and not able to handle the load that is being placed on them by longer blades. He said the motor is essentially trying to adjust itself so that there is less drag. “What happens is on the upswing or the downswing, it’s actually got some slack in there and that’s that clunking noise that people are hearing,” Gauger said.

Structural Failure Michigan

A one-year moratorium has been enacted on a proposed wind energy farm to allow officials to check on regulations before making a decision on whether or not to allow work to move forward. The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners approved the moratorium last month, but the Virginia-based company has said it will continue to push forward with plans for the Maple Rapids Wind project.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Another blade failure on a wind turbine recently occurred a couple miles south of Minden City on Minden Road in northern Sanilac County. Much of the blade has broken off. Work on replacing the blade will likely have to wait until Spring, leaving this unit out of service for some time.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

The Almer Township planning commission denied issuing a special use land permit to allow a company to build wind turbines. ...The township ultimately decided the wind turbine company was not in compliance with the ordinance and posed too much of a health and safety risk.

General Michigan

Commissioners voted 5-1 to again halt wind-energy development during their final meeting of the year, Thursday, Dec. 29.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The Almer Township Planning Commission is required to make a recommendation today about an application for a special land-use permit, exactly 100 days since NextEra Energy Resources L.L.C. filed the paperwork for a $200 million wind turbine project.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

I signed a wind turbine lease with Heritage Sustainable in 2008. If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have signed. Since the turbines went up, I have had frequent headaches lasting three days. I never had these before.

Impact on People Michigan

Dramatic video shows a wind turbine catching fire Tuesday, with a blade crashing to the ground. It happened in McBain Michigan at the Stoney Corners Wind Farm. The project consists of 29 turbines that were a mix different makes and models. The total installed capacity is reported as 60.2 megawatts. 

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

Heritage Sustainable Energy lost a turbine to fire at the Stoney Corners Wind Farm located in parts of Missaukee and Osceola Counties, west of the City of McBain, Michigan. The project consists of 29 wind turbines at an installed capacity of 60.2 megawatts. Special thanks to Dianne Ziegler for allowing us to share her photos on the Windaction site.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

“Unfortunately with the hazards because of the heavy machinery that's up there, there's not much that we could do until it falls down or wait until the point that it's safe and we can send somebody up there to make an inspection,” says Jay Deboer, the Deputy Chief for McBain Fire Department.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners voted, by a 6 to 1 margin, to approve a one-year moratorium on wind energy projects within the county during its Thursday, Dec. 15 meeting, with the moratorium taking effect immediately. The Shiawassee County Planning Commission met and passed a recommendation for the board of commissioners to approve the moratorium at its Wednesday, Dec. 14 meeting. The new board, which will take over in January, could lengthen or shorten the moratorium, according to Commissioner Jeff Bartz.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Vollmar...owns property in Almer Township and has lease agreements with NextEra Energy Resources L.L.C. as part of the $200 million project known as Tuscola III Wind Energy Center. Almer and Ellington now have one-year moratoriums on wind turbine projects. Vollmar has been vocal in public meetings against those who have consistently called for such moratoriums in light of what they have called “weak ordinances” in place.

General Michigan

The Huron County Planning Commission recommended a one-year moratorium on wind development Wednesday night, with exceptions for three county-approved projects. The recommendation will be sent to the Huron County Board of Commissioners, who will likely address the issue at their Dec. 29 meeting.

Zoning/Planning Michigan