Expanded renewable energy law, long-term utility planning or targets set by the governor are all on the table.

Energy Policy 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

“People were mostly concerned with safety, the fact that (the turbines) are so close to people’s homes and property. People were concerned about the noise, concerned about the shadow flicker,” Sower said. Sower says there was a turbine slated to go up within 800 feet of his home.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

A week from today, the Sherwood Township Wind Energy zoning ordinance will go into effect requiring a special use permit to erect wind turbines in the township. The amendment was approved last Thursday in a special township meeting by Treasurer Dale Marie Brubaker and Trustees Marjorie Whitcomb and Fred Haack.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Two years after it started work, Sherwood Township has a wind turbine control ordinance. It passed 3-0 in a special meeting Thursday and will take place seven days after publication in the newspaper.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Concerned Citizens posted on their Facebook page that the ordinance establishes the maximum height of an industrial turbine at 330 feet. It also requires a setback from a non-participating parcel be 500 percent of the height of the tower and the required setback from a body of water is half a mile.

Zoning/Planning 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

After 14 meetings over 23 months, Sherwood Township residents will have to wait until Dec. 5 for the township board to vote on a proposed wind turbine control ordinance. The ordinance would set height limits of 330 feet for turbines, set noise levels, establish blade flicker and set minimum setbacks from property line and residences.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

A zoning ordinance that would restrict wind turbines in Sherwood Township was supposed to come to a vote during the township board meeting Tuesday night, but an error in the noticing for the meeting caused the vote to be delayed, according to Sherwood Township Attorney Catherine Kaufman. 

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The petition claims that the Wheatland Township Planning Commission’s vote on Ordinance 16.25 took place after the meeting had been adjourned, in violation of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. It also alleges a conflict of interest among several Board members, who did not recuse themselves during a later, July 12, 2018 vote to adopt the ordinance.

Legal 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

On Tuesday, upwards of two dozen protestors gathered outside Wheatland Township Hall to picket before a board of trustees meeting. They carried signs expressing their opposition to the project, which would see an unknown number of wind turbines erected in Adams, Moscow and Wheatland townships.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People Michigan

Attorney Joshua Nolan, hired by Concerned Citizens, said the law was defensible and not arbitrary or capricious. He is already opposing other ordinances for wind turbines in the state. He asked for a lower night time noise limit as well as a provision to require all permits before any construction begins.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

The Planning Commission recommended on a 6-0 vote that the Township Board adopt an amendment to the Township Zoning Ordinance which would require a Special Use Permit for wind energy conversion systems. It would also establish what some regard as stringent regulations and standards.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

SHERWOOD TOWNSHIP — After 22 months of work, the Sherwood Township Planning Commission has recommend the first Wind Turbine control ordinance to its township board.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

BATAVIA TOWNSHIP — The Batavia Township Planning Commission is not yet ready to tackle a wind turbine ordinance, Trustee Mike Crenshaw told the township board Tuesday night.

Zoning/Planning 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