The Federal Aviation Administration has determined the height of the proposed wind turbines would be too tall and penetrate restricted airspace. The turbines would also present safety issues during landings and takeoffs unless alterations to the plan are made.

General Michigan

Montcalm County residents could see a local wind farm project sooner than they think — and it could encompass up to 50,000 acres throughout 11 townships.

General Michigan

“We’re currently looking at about 11 different townships in Montcalm County, including Sidney,” he said. “We don’t know who’s going to be interested in signing a lease or who’s not. There’s likely to be upwards of 50,000 acres signed into this property. Probably several hundred landowners and their families will be participating.

General Michigan

Company representatives have been opposing many of the restrictions included in a wind turbine zoning ordinance passed in Matteson and Sherwood townships. A similar ordinance is pending in Batavia Township. Voters in Sherwood Township on Tuesday voted to approve the ordinance restrictions, 321 to 157.

General Michigan

While the coronavirus recession has sapped demand for energy and put fracking companies on the ropes – with hundreds of bankruptcies declared so far – the renewables that would replace oil and coal are facing a growing challenge that will last long after the pandemic: The resistance of rural communities to mammoth solar or wind farms that can power cities. From New York to California, local opposition is thwarting wind and solar projects seen as essential to transitioning from fossil fuels. Many opponents support renewable energy in theory and express concern about climate change. And many landowners have partnered with environmental groups to block or delay natural gas pipelines designed to run through their property.

General USA Michigan

ROGERS CITY — The Federal Aviation Administration is evaluating whether proposed wind turbines in Moltke Township would obstruct air traffic at the Rogers City Airport.

General Michigan

A Michigan database of all solar and wind ordinances in the state aims to help local officials research what regulations may work in their communities.

General Michigan

Harris added that Ranger started developing solar projects in Michigan in 2017. The state’s newly raised 15 percent renewable energy standard, relatively high cost of electricity and a series of coal plant retirements all “drove our interest in Michigan.” “We’re finding even more interest from utilities in purchasing solar energy than we originally expected,” he said.

General Michigan

“Our responsibility here is to carry out the law, which we did, and to support the law, which I’m here to do,” Campbell said. “No amount of money is going to cause me to alter my decision to comply with this law.” Campbell then pointed to the card in front of him, containing his name and identifying him as an AZBA member. “If you look at this card here, my name is Bill, not Judas,” he said. “And 30 pieces of silver will not buy my reputation and my character.”

General Michigan

“So, if Michigan’s utilities are building their wind facilities in areas with poor wind resources — like Hillsdale County — they will need to build a lot more turbines and have the turbines they build produce far less electricity. That ensures that the costs to build and operate wind facilities in Michigan is far higher than it is in states like Oklahoma or Kansas,” Hayes said.

General Michigan

An industrial wind facility is set to launch in Hillsdale County next year, despite significant opposition from local residents and questions. ...Opponents of the Crescent Wind Energy Center, organized as Concerned Citizen of Wheatland Township, claim the township’s planning commission and board rammed through ordinance modifications and use permits for Chicago-based developer Invenergy in 2018-19 despite widespread conflicts of interest.

General Michigan

Under the agreement, Isabella Wind, LLC, will take out a $200,000 bond for each turbine it builds. The company is currently planning to build up to 136 turbines, a number scaled back from the 157 it was permitted to build by the county's planning commission in January. Isabella County will take the bonds and hold onto them. When the turbines need to get torn down, that's where the money will come from.

General Michigan

Two lawsuits have been filed against Casnovia Township since it approved a special use permit for the wind farm in April. One lawsuit was filed by residents opposed to the project, and the other by the project’s developer, American Electric Power. Meanwhile, three members of the Casnovia Township Board of Trustees are now facing recall attempts based on their votes to approve the permit.

General Michigan

ROGERS CITY — When voters in some parts of Presque Isle County head to the polls on Aug. 6, they will have a chance to decide whether or not to keep a controversial wind turbine ordinance.

General Michigan

The Commission said “DTE failed to prove that proposed company owned wind projects to be built in 2021 or later, and which do not qualify for the full federal tax credit, can be cost-effective compared to alternative sources of renewable generation and ownership models.” ...The ruling does not kill DTE’s Branch County plans but it makes it harder and requires cost justification as markets and resources change.

General Michigan

Voters in three Michigan communities considered ballot issues related to industrial wind farms during the May 7 election, and in all three cases, they rejected policies preferred by wind farm developers.

General Michigan

CASNOVIA TOWNSHIP, MI – A proposed wind farm project at the border of Muskegon and Kent counties has moved closer to reality.

General Michigan

Officials in a Muskegon County community have narrowly approved the construction of a controversial wind farm. The Casnovia Township board OK’d a special land use permit for the Kenowa Ridge Wind Energy Project in a 3-2 vote at a special meeting Tuesday.

General Michigan

“After a careful review of several factors, RES has decided to discontinue the development of the Summit Lake Wind project.” RES project manager Sean Stocker said in a statement “continued delays in the planning process have ceased to make the project financially and logistically viable.” A company spokesperson declined a request for further comment.

General Michigan

“MBIA is not opposed to alternative sources of energy. But, regarding wind farms in our Great Lakes, we find far too many unanswered questions and documented risks to the health and aesthetics of these unique and often times fragile bodies of water. We stand opposed to plans such as the one being considered in Ohio now and we encourage all boaters and boating businesses to join us in communicating this to Ohio.”

General Michigan