“I respect that position. It is their right to do so. However, I have an issue with the way the petition circulated.” He said that NextEra Energy hired a firm to circulate the petition.

General Michigan

By a vote of 4-1, the Ellington board passed the one-year moratorium in a special meeting held Tuesday. The Almer Township also held a special meeting Tuesday and voted to discuss a similar moratorium at its Dec. 13 meeting.

General Michigan

The brothers later told The Advertiser they felt it was the right time to publicly announce the incident because they want people to know that they feel NextEra Energy Resources L.L.C. – and the companies representing them in Tuscola County – isn’t always the “good neighbor” officials from the company purport to be.

General Michigan

 Newly elected members to the Almer Charter Township Board and to the Ellington Township Board of Trustees brought a new attitude about wind development. The two townships held back-to-back special meetings Tuesday at the Tuscola Technology Center, and each made similar motions about slowing down a wind development project in their townships. 

General Michigan

“Today I’m here to ask the commissioners to delay making any decisions on the Huron Wind Project that includes Sherman Township until at least after our Dec. 13 meeting,” said Kathi Jahn, Sherman Township clerk.

General Michigan

When asked what Huron County should pursue for alternative energy development, 42 percent of respondents agreed that wind is a viable option, and 40 percent disagreed, with 18 percent saying they were neutral. Wind energy development was second to crime/drug abuse as the top challenges that the county faces.

General Michigan

Many of those in attendance — including residents of Middlebury, Owosso, Fairfield and Rush townships, where the turbines are planned — asked commissioners to put in place a moratorium on wind turbine operations

General Michigan

Huron County officials are considering a five-year moratorium on wind development.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

“The state legislators appear to be thinking of making yet another increase to their ignorant mandate for so-called green energy,” said Leo Sonck is the supervisor-elect for Bridgehampton Township and current chairman of its planning committee. “Let's focus on safety, health, welfare and property rights, then if they can be done safely and fair to all, fine, move forward.” 

Energy Policy Michigan

Wind farm companies have learned a few things from big-box retailers about pushing back against property taxes.

Taxes & Subsidies Michigan

The Michigan Wind 2 project in Sanilac County brought with it a spike in tax revenue while it grew renewable energy. But Sanilac County just returned more than $230,000 following a settlement with Exelon after the company alleged the local governments did not properly assess the wind turbine project's taxable value.

General Michigan

A single blade on two different wind turbines at wind farms bounded by Verona, Redman, Huron City and Kinde Roads were hanging by a literal thread this morning after having apparently snapped in half.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

The Huron County Planning Commission will revisit the application by Huron Wind LLC (a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources) in November, once a map has been drawn that shows parcels whose owners want to opt out of the district.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

A recent study of 183 DTE Energy wind turbines found that bird and bat deaths per megawatt is just above average compared to other wind parks in the Midwest.

Impact on Birds Impact on Bats Michigan

After hitting the 10% level required by law, Michigan's two major utilities appear to be throttling back on adding new renewable energy sources now that they can set their own pace for becoming greener. That means ratepayers for DTE Energy and Consumers Energy will likely see stable monthly bills in the near future.

Energy Policy Michigan

Recent proposed amendments to the township’s 2013 wind ordinance would limit sound to 40 decibels (dBA) during the day, and 35 dBA at night for landowners who have wind turbines. For residents without turbines, the limit would be 35 dBA during the day, and 30 dBA at night.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The Sand Beach Township Planning Commission recently introduced amendments to its 2013 wind ordinance, which would limit sound to 40 decibels (dBA) during the day, and 35 dBA and night for landowners who have wind turbines.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

About 12 people picketed outside with signs reading “2 Tall, 2 Many, 2 Close,” among others. Sally Kain of Meade Township was one of them ...“Huron County already has too many (turbines) and it’s time to stop,” she said. “We are already thoroughly saturated and we’ve met our quota.”

Zoning/Planning Michigan

While currently governed by county zoning, Lincoln Township on Aug. 8 took action that would lead to formation of its own planning commission and master plan. One resolution passed imposes “a moratorium on the issuance of permits, licenses or approvals for … construction of wind energy systems.” 

Zoning/Planning Michigan

An issue that has been dividing both residents and public officials in Huron County will go before the Huron County Board of Commissioners for a vote Tuesday morning. Three consecutive public hearings will be held at the Huron Expo Center pertaining to a wind overlay district request by DTE Energy in Lincoln, Dwight, Sigel and Bloomfield townships, starting at 9:20 a.m.

Zoning/Planning Michigan