The controversy continues a years worth of consternation over the wind farm project. Georgia Prince Edward Island Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind II Farm) will be equipped with Vestas Wind Systems V100-1.8 MW turbines. Two lawsuits have been filed against Casnovia Township since it approved a special use permit for the wind farm in April. Big Potential Meets Big Opposition," Question:Why so many wind turbines? Each petition was approved by the Muskegon County Election Commission on June 17. Puerto Rico width: 100% !important; The systems would stop the turbines whenever ice is detected to prevent large shards from being hurled toward nearby residences. There have been 21 wind referendums in Michigan since 2009 and all of them have sent WIND out of their community. recovery. function onCatChange() { Thailand [ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=93800 ], Wind farm east of Muskegon met with lawsuits, recall attempts. Yet there is little to no evidence of the negative impact because it is hard to measure bird and bat deaths by turbines. That project was scrapped in 2015 after running into a lack of community support. You can say no many, many times. In 2008, then-Gov. Residents in Isabella County have complained about conflicts of interest involving zoning officials who stand to receive thousand of dollars in annual tower lease income and are now considering permissive zoning amendments related to wind farms. [3]. Black Enterprises Inc., live or are located within 300 feet of the proposed wind turbine site. The land is income-producing property. It was the utility company's first wind plant project in Michigan. They also result in billions of dollars a year leaving the state to purchase coal from other states. Remember, wind turbines only create energy if there is wind. very specific areas, and to them it seems counterintuitive that there AEP wants to build 31 wind turbines across portions of Casnovia Township in Muskegon County and Tyrone Township in Kent County. Pollardsaid he opposes thewind developmentbecause he believes it wouldruin the area's artesian wells and kill bats and birds. The dispute in Juniata Township began in Nov. 2017 when officials received a special land use permit request from NextEra Energy. Connecticut "If they had just done it fair and just put people on the board that didn't have the conflict of interest and voted it through, okay, that's different," Wheatland Township resident Chris Pollard said. The original version recommended that wind turbines and towers have a 2,500-foot property line setback. Huron County has the most wind developments in the state and Tuscola County has the second most. There is a place for this, and its away from people.". Nicaragua While Knight will not have a turbine on his land, he will be able to see turbines that his neighbors have signed up for an eyesore for him. Exelon has filed the applications and is now waiting for a decision. Madagascar Stone says township officials with a financial conflict have recused themselves from the decision-making process. "These people are in the right by thinking that there's a problem of these things being too close are real. While the state used those new values to assess wind projects some local governments had not yet updated their assessment protocol to match those lower rates. But while some advocates suggest that nuclear power a source that emits no carbon should have a more prominent role in the nations energy makeup, the public protect our planet. Garrett Tetil, one of the leaders of the recall effort, told Michigan Capitol Confidential he will likely sue the township over the special land use permit. Sempra had repeatedly asked Casnovia Township for a three-year permit that they claimed was an acceptable period to get the project up and running, according to the lawsuit. The federal Production Tax Credit that companies can collect is an inflation-adjusted rate currently set at $0.023 per kilowatt hour and lasts for 10 years. On June 4, resident Daniel Kosheba filed recall petitions against Powell, Brock and Winnell. If NextEra is successful in getting the wind farm approved, Juniata Township would see 31 wind towers erected, 486 feet tall from base to blade tip. This was not the first such cancellation. We do have landowners who have signed onto the project and sufficient land to be able to build this project, Bryan Garner, manager of communications for Florida-based NextEra, told MLive. Demand our elected officials require more investments by our utilities in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Actually I expected to hear from the anti-wind energy folks, Schindler said in the email. Do you have more questions about the Michigan Wind 3 project or about wind turbines in general? Yet we continue to provide subsidies and tax credits to make it appear we are green. From the discussion, it is apparent that there is no The Michigan Wind 3 project will require only about 10 people to operate it after construction. To date, there are 70,808 turbines covering 44 states and territories, which includes Guam and Puerto Rico. But when you once say yes, you are caught in your own trap. In 2018, it published a database with wind turbine records that it keeps regularly updated. The credit, which is based on the cost of the project, would allow the $250 million Exelon project to collect a $75 million credit. I think wind turbines are a thing of beauty, combining grace with function. Wolverine Power Cooperative is the company that will be buying the energy from Exelon and then distributing it to customers. But the biggest benefit that Sanilac County will see is the estimated tax revenue over the lifetime of the project, which is expected to be about 30 years. https://www.masterresource.org/wind-turbine-noise-issues/big-wind-loses-lapeer-county/, Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup #411 |, Weekly Local weather and Power Information Roundup #411 - yobvoice.com, While nothing is official until it is recorded with the county register of Deeds and a strong ordinance in NB is still needed., I cant help but think they will come back with a vengeance in the next 5 years. The board did not fulfill that request, the complaint reads. Portugal Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Donate | Contact Us, majority of the states wind developments, Michigan Treasury stiffs workers on new tax cut, Despite billions in corporate welfare, Michigans jobs market still back of the pack, Lansing Math: Michigan pays $340,000 per (promised) job at Gotion factory, Michigans income tax cut was 16 years in the making. Wales Go to local meetings and support renewable energy projects in your area. Lesotho partially addressed: the new wind farm will be visible from fewer places still the question of proximity to the shoreline that has only been As a result, more As part of its noncommercial effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe fair use as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Blogs Chile Its amazing the effect of waving dollar bills in front of the officials has on their judgement and decision making. Baldwin said a similar project, Apple Blossom wind farm that is slated to be built in Huron County, was approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission to sell their energy for $45 per megawatt hour. If the wind project is built, Pollard said heplans on moving. SOURCES The proliferation of wind projects has faced backlashes elsewhere in the state. ", "We're just a poor community. About In a May 22 email to Neumann, Matthew Wagner, a manager of renewable energy developments for the utility company DTE, blasted the noise standards in the original pamphlet. Huron County in Michigan's thumb area imposed a moratorium on wind farms in 2015. Answer: Tillman said per ordinance, Exelon would be required to remove the turbine at the end of its life. | Mississippi Black Enterprises, located near the wind farm, causing substantial economic harm to plan participants. Answer: Chris Martinelli, 56, of Bridgehampton Townshipsaid his biggest concern with the turbine project is the safety factor: flying turbine blades and turbines catching fire. Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind III Farm - Phase I) will be equipped with GE Renewable Energy turbines. Vermont Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Smokestacks are ugly. Tillman said the property setbacks are in place to protect people and homes from being injured or damaged. Donate Donate If the plan is successful, the turbines could be implemented in 2024. Companies had until 2015 to reach that benchmark and all 84 electric providers in Michigan either met or exceeded that, said Julie Baldwin, Michigan Public Service Commission manager of renewable energy section. "I never signed up for this. Brenda Smigill, Archie Thomas Real Estate owner in Port Sanilac, said it is harder to sell homes in areas where turbine projects are being constructed. severely disrupted, and the area has still not made a complete economic make many power lines. It increases our tax base and increases our revenue.. Rhode Island At the end of 2012, there were 160 turbines in the Huron County. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig. Question: Do the turbines have an impact on the surrounding wildlife like birds and deer? Texas When operational, the 225 megawatt wind park will have 77 wind turbines and generate The turbines would be on a different location further back on the same property as an earlier project pursued by Farm Wind Energy. I listened to a virtual meeting in a Virginia County last night. Similar stories are coming out of other communities targeted for industrial wind farm developments covering tens of thousands of acres. Then, the neighbors are contacted with the same promises. We want to let you know that we have decided to start releasing wind easements and participation agreements in your community effective August 1, 2020 and that you will be receiving a more formal letter regarding terminations in the coming weeks. The Michigan Wind 3 turbines are expected to have a more than 30-year lifespan. Korea Isle of Man Copyright Law and similar fair dealing provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. New Brunswick It also uses a more lenient measurement method that allows this noise level as close as 100 feet from a dwelling.