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

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

The team at Heritage is working to determine the cause of the break and the next steps to take to repair it.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

Voters in Bay County recalled a township supervisor who was pushing the development of wind farms. Jonesfield Township in Saginaw County rejected a zoning change that would have enabled more turbines. And in Baraga County, voters turned down a zoning ordinance sought by a British wind power developer. These are small communities, but indicative of the chronic problem utility companies have in siting wind farms. 

Zoning/Planning 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

“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

While it is possible wind-energy generating companies would seek to place windmills in the city, the Escanaba Planning Commission undertook writing the ordinance as a preemptive measure. T

General Michigan

The charred remains of the generator of the wind turbine that caught fire late Monday afternoon is clearly visible from the Elkton Road. Seley said there was nothing firefighters could do except watch flames consume the unit themselves. "It's way too high and you are not going to save anything," he said.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

Firefighters and deputies were called after a wind turbine caught fire near the village of Elkton. Jeff Smith, an Elkton village official, said the fire, which broke out on April 1,  is 300 feet in the air and crews cannot reach it to extinguish the blaze. The turbine is part of the Harvest II wind energy facility placed in service in November 2012 by Exelon and is one of 33 Vestas V-100 (1.8 MW) turbines erected in Oliver, Chandler and McKinley townships.

Safety Structural Failure Michigan

The planning commission pointed to the code compliance section of the Pegasus SLUP application as the main reason for revocation. The section reads: “The Pegasus Wind Energy Center will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and will obtain all required federal, state, and local approvals, licenses, permits or variances for the proposed wind project prior to the date of construction. ...Despite a portion of the section stating that NextEra would not begin construction until it retains all applicable permits, the Pegasus Project has begun with the construction of base supports as well as roads to the supports.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

“We increased the setbacks to 2,000 feet (from 750 feet) from property lines. We indicate there should be zero shadow flicker on peoples’ property, unless they want to participate...and we also lowered the sound level,” he said.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Concerns about a proposed wind farm’s impact on Mt. Pleasant Airport will be communicated to the Federal Aviation Administration after city commissioners approved the correspondence on Monday. Apex Clean Energy is planning a wind farm in six townships in Isabella County, with groundwork expected to begin this summer and the turbines themselves being put up in 2020.

Safety Michigan