There have been 21 wind referendums in Michigan since 2009 and all of them have sent WIND out of their community. About 100 residents throughout the four townships have signed leases with Exelon. 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. Its a major investment in our township, said Mike Haggerty, Bridgehampton Township supervisor. Lakes Eyed for Offshore Wind Farms. More than 60% of Michigan electricity currently comes from coal-fired power plants. 6 The average installed cost of a small (<100 kW) turbine was approximately $9,500 per kW in 2020. Koshebas petitions claim the trio ignored the legal advice and counsel of the Casnovia Township attorney and voted to unlawfully approve the special land use permit before AEP had met all the specified and designated conditions of the townships zoning ordinance. Nearby Huron County limits noise levels from turbines to an average of 50 decibels from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 45 decibels the rest of the day. Those in opposition worry most about what they describe as "unsafe" distances between turbines and homes or property lines. Some receive checks for hosting turbines on their land; the rest dread the intrusion to their senses. "And it's like, well, wait a minute.". power Energy Michigan enacted a Renewable Energy Standard in 2008 that required all electric providers to work towards having 10 percent of their retail sales come from renewable energy. Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind III Farm - Phase I) will be equipped with GE Renewable Energy turbines. margin: 0 -8px !important; Minnesota |. every year. He said itll be an economic boom to the region. When the board refused, residents gathered enough signatures to recall three of its five members. Unfortunately, Burnside Township voted in a restrictive ordinace in February 2018, making utility-scale wind development in the township extremely challenging, if not impossible. } Wind Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations. Now a Florida based company has announced it is ready to build a new wind park in Bay and Tuscola counties, which will include up to 66 turbines. After that, he will get an early payment of 2 percent of the windmill'sgross income. When Exelon approached Dean Kritzman about leasing his land for the energy companys most recent wind turbine project, Kritzman didnt hesitate to say yes. Egypt clean energy arguing against a certain clean energy source sounds so Topics covered: solar tech, business models, regulation and policy, distributed solar, utility solar. people are not fond of building power plants close to where they live, This North Shore Community Has Had Enough Of Towering Wind Turbines Wind turbines: The money and the myths - Detroit Free Court Orders Utility To Address Wind Turbine Noise Problems Uruguay Georgia Rick Snyder signed legislation mandating the state get 15 percent of its energy from renewables by 2021. District of Columbia Big Potential Meets Big Opposition, Great The wind farm project in Hillsdale County is one of seven wind farm projects under development in Michigan according to the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates the state's electricity and gas utilities. One lawsuit was filed by residents opposed to the project, and the other by the projects developer, American Electric Power. The credit, which is based on the cost of the project, would allow the $250 million Exelon project to collect a $75 million credit. At the end of 2012, there were 160 turbines in the Huron County. They began by stealthily contacting absentee landowners, with promises of income unaffected by weather. Conflicts between renewables developers and residents of project-adjacent communities are common. be smaller, there will not be as many positive benefits to the area, WebThe impacts of wind turbines on some species of birds and bats may contribute, along with other stressors, to population-level declines, according to the report. Trust is earned. closer to solving the energy controversies of the world. The Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council was created by Governor Granholm in February of 2009 to identify the best potential areas for offshore wind in Michigan, ensure Great Lakes bottomlands are protected and identify other barriers to offshore wind energy development in Michigan. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. Thailand He saw it as a win-win-win situation: the turbine would produce renewable energy, Sanilac County would reap tax revenue benefits and he would get a personal lease payment each year. Youre playing Russia roulette with a wind turbine, and nobody wants to do that," said Tim Thornhill, a local farmer. NextEra Energy did not respond to an and email and phone call requesting comment. Accounting for the average Thumb-area wind production capacity, Kritzman would receive an average yearly stipend of about $7,569. There is The township had stated that it wanted wind turbines at least 1,300 feet away from homes and dwellings, and 1,000 feet away from any property line to protect against ice and blade throw, according to the permit. 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. The new law increases by 50 percent the amount of renewable energy that utilities must use, which in Michigan means more wind turbines. The current zoning requires a setback of 1 to 1.5 times the height of the tower and sound levels to not exceed 65 decibels. The ordinance was contained in a pamphlet that was posted in March 2017 and pulled down later in the spring. Members of the Juniata Township display: block !important; Nebraska wind farm projects cause controversy and heartache, one article in The Fence Post was titled. The Governor then extended the life of the council, adding new members and charging the council with finishing the mapping exercise, developing a more comprehensive leasing regulation and further engaging the public in a discussion on the topic. Print Edition Oregon Cuba A legal battle over a proposed wind farm of 63 turbines is brewing in a small community in the Thumb area of Michigan. I listened to a virtual meeting in a Virginia County last night. but after complaints from the locals, the project was downsized to 500 AEP took control of the project after it bought Sempra Energys wind turbine assets in 2019. 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. Tillman said the property setbacks are in place to protect people and homes from being injured or damaged. value into perspective, that is enough power for several tens of Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. width: 100% !important; power companies have recently begun building wind farms relatively close Iowa The lawsuit states that the project was required to be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so as to be harmonious and appropriate in appearance with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity and that such a use will not change the essential character of the area.. Kevon Martis industry as well as the real estate value of the houses there. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI A proposed wind farm project at the border of Muskegon and Kent counties continues to be the subject of sharp division between residents, their elected officials and the projects developer. Oceana Counties, Michigan, Scandia Wind Offshore LLC, 2 Mar 10. The Michigan Wind 3 would be eligible to collect about $3,519 annually. Add to this the current crisis surrounding the coronavirus . "We think that it will enable, well, perhaps some of our younger relatives not to have to sit in the cold in the wintertime or swelter in the summertime because they dont have enough electricity," said Laura Engel, a resident who signed a lease agreement with the company. France Mexico I can look out and see ones from my home on a clear day and see if they are turning.. Renewables opponents must answer questions about climate changes far more severe environmental impacts and recognize renewables significant local economic benefits. Many developers are more sensitive to these issues now, but we still have no mandatory guidelines that require developers to take these impacts into account, Mason said. The proposed legislation also dedicates the majority of royalties collected for further scientific study and habitat restoration efforts in general. The filers, Jonathan and Jennifer Armstrong, Ron Fritz and P.D. Offshore wind has the potential to reduce the environmental impacts from power production, create jobs that put our manufacturing base back to work and keep more of our money in Michigan rather than buying coal from others. "Wind Because the wind farm will now very specific areas, and to them it seems counterintuitive that there North Dakota We can't," hesaid. | Oklahoma The reimbursement that the company receives is based on the amount of electricity generated. }. Question: What happens when the turbine stops working? Madagascar The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimatesthat in 2019 there will be the highest amount of wind capacity added to the country's electricity grid since 2012 as developers look to qualify for the federal Production Tax Credit. Puerto Rico That has allowed the school district to decrease its millage rate from 0.82 mills to 0.1 mill in the past year. In the complainants view, the board failed to find adequate evidence that the wind farm complied with the townships zoning ordinance. | Kansas Alabama recovery. Greece Press releases DTE will be back even worse, almost guaranteed., I am hoping this isnt a twisted DTE strategy to lull people into apathy and then BAM North Branch has an ordinance that doesnt offer residents the protections we deserve, opening the door for DTE or another company to come knocking. Topics covered: load mgmt, dynamic pricing, energy efficiency, and much more. Isle of Man Roger Knight, 66, of Bridgehampton Townshipis one of those individuals not yet convinced. But first they face local resistance that often manifests itself in zoning ordinances that limit where they can be placed. wildlife and the migratory patterns of birds that fly over Lake Michigan "Invenergy has worked openly and transparently with community members, townships and the county during (the past 10 years)," Lambrecht said. Of that pot of money, Deckerville Community Schools received about $57,000 in 2015. 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. Michigan Environmental Council Policy Director James Clift is a member of the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council, which is tasked with proposing good places for offshore wind development, consistent statewide leasing rules, and provisions for public input. The problem itself, in fact, is far too complex to evaluate The wind developer also has promised to repair any roads it uses while constructing wind turbines, Stone said. Pennsylvania Oceania It is premature to speculate on how much of each we will build and what capacity may be for future wind turbines or solar arrays," said Cindy Hecht, a spokespersonat DTE Energy. Nova Scotia Wind knocks out power to 30,000 across Michigan as crews scramble to make repairs. Answer: While the project spans 20,000 acres across four townships, a single turbinephysically sits on one acre of land. DOUGLASS, Mich. It was a contentious Tuesday night in Montcalm County as property owners gathered in protest and in support regarding the possibility of a wind farm in their community. 2023 www.freep.com. All rights reserved. Wind turbines provide clean energy primarily through utility-scale projects in rural communities. Wisconsin if ( dropdown.options[dropdown.selectedIndex].value > 0 ) { Missouri to build a large wind farm consisting of several hundred wind turbines An anti-wind turbine sign stands in the front yard of a farmhouse in Glenville, Minn., in January 2018. Opponents of wind power are successfully stalling or rejecting wind farm projects across the country. Kitson, the administrator of the Facebook page, says he knows that these accidents aren't typical. "Those events are not likely. I think wind turbines are a thing of beauty, combining grace with function. Each petition was approved by the Muskegon County Election Commission on June 17. Europe Oct 08. A solar hot water heater, backyard wind turbine, and new windows and insulation will all help protect the lakes we love. Texas Neighboring Fairgrove Township, which gave its approval last fall,would see 32, according to a report from MLive. "The 4000MW of renewable energy we will add to our portfolio will be a combination of wind and solar. Austria Poland 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. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail. Sri Lanka Farm in the Great Lakes? wind farm will provide approximately 500 MW of power to the surrounding Transportation electrification is gettinga major boost from the Inflation Reduction Act as well as variousfederal, state and local policies. Tennessee Maine They want the wind farm because the jobs it will provide will help their Posted at 6:00 AM, May 03, 2021 . Those in opposition argue the turbines are noisy, cause wildlife disruptions and could go so far as to cause disruptions with sleep patterns due to the intrasound they create. [2] One is that the The plan, for up to 200 turbines within two miles of Silver Lake sand dunes, has generated controversy statewide. using them based upon the amount of time it would take for each and any Northern Ireland Those leases, you almost have to be an attorney to read them and Ive heard a lot of stories, he said. The incentives are driving a wind turbineboom across the country. For a house worth $100,000, the yearly tax that home owner was paying decreased from $41 to $5. The project includes building 68 wind turbines across four townships. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. rsted said this week that workers from GE found stress lines in the Haliade turbines but that a risk assessment found that they are structurally sound. Black Enterprises Inc., live or are located within 300 feet of the proposed wind turbine site. 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. The groundwork is already being laid for it on other political fronts., Keep watch over your local elected officials, make sure you keep in office the ones who helped block DTE and elect new ones who you know will block them in the future. Industrial wind power, a government created and enabled industry, is not only about the uneconomic. Wind Resources - State of Michigan Many have put their families and their community name on the line to go against their neighbors to fight for what they believe in. The county has 11 wind projects with 300 turbines and could The township board also worried about blade delamination, or the breakdown of the laminated coating of wind turbine blades. The top of Michigan At 1,979 feet, Mt. Such stories are many, the most recent concerning a recently cancelled project in central Michigan. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy One local government official suspects that the original study was pulled down due to industry pressure. "Our community right now is very divided," saidWheatland Township Supervisor Dave Stone. Aegir Project," Letter to the Boards of Commissioners of Mason and MSU then posted a revised version on Aug. 24. Smokestacks are ugly. Write, call, email; This is really appreciated that you have presented this data over here, I love all the information shared. [3], On the other hand, the company makes two very strong We will have to do roadwork, The bigger issue people dont talk about is bat mortality, Mason said. Morocco Topics covered: smart grid tech, clean energy, regulation, generation, and much more. attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. He said he will be paid for 265 acres which equates to $3,975. Guam The people who are not participating landowners and not compensated should have some aspect of government listening to them. The turbines would be on a different location further back on the same property as an earlier project pursued by Farm Wind Energy. http://www.scandiawind.com/AegirGrid.html, Lake Michigan wind farm plan generates angst, highlights work of Wind Council. Southern Michigan wind project faces opposition The plan, for up to 200 turbines within two miles of It included initial mapping criteria to assess proposals to lease Great Lakes bottomlands, a discussion of current permitting shortfalls and recommended procedures for engaging the public on the issue. Nicaragua Antigua and Barbuda Using alternative energy sources has always created of states wind turbines in Huron In 2018, it published a database with wind turbine records that it keeps regularly updated. Answer: According to Tillman, Exelon spokesman, the 68 turbines will be able to produce enough energy annually to power 44,000 Michigan homes a year. Tillman said that is an average amount, not full capacity. Remember, wind turbines only create energy if there is wind. 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. If the plan is successful, the turbines could be implemented in 2024. Smigill said the turbines are noisy and lower home values. Those residents who sign lease deals with Exelon, allowing the company to build a wind turbine on their property, get a yearly reimbursement. Some Philippines Answer: Yes. that it would have a much smaller impact on the environment than a more significant impact that the wind farm could have on the animals that Subscribe to Utility Dive for top news, trends & analysis, The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines, JMJ Launches Free Toolbox Talks App to Make Safety Accessible to All, EnergyHub Is First DERMS to Exceed One Million Devices Under Management, Burns & McDonnell Senior Executive Leslie Duke Named New CEO of 100% Employee-Owned Firm, LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY EXPANDS ITS COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES WITH NEW 900 MHz PRIVATE, By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our, NextEra Energy in building renewables capacity, Michigans 10% renewables by 2015 mandate, climate changes far more severe environmental impacts, Wind power sets off revolt in Michigan's Thumb, Amid high energy prices, SCE VP, other experts push to reduce Californias reliance on natural gas, House passes resolution to end pause on SE Asia solar panel tariffs, Sen. Manchin co-sponsors Senate version, California regulators approve PG&E, Energy Vault green hydrogen and battery microgrid, FERC close to final interconnection rule, interregional transfer proposal: Chairman Phillips, Portland General Electric to add 400 MW ofbattery storage at 2 sites in partnership with NextEra, Eolian, The latest in sustainability efforts for utilities, Power the Energy & Utilities Industry with Great IT, New hydrogen power plant in Texas offers glimpse of the future, State must consider environmental arguments for closing coal plants, Supreme Court says, The Subtle Strategy Behind Elon Musks Price Cuts at Tesla, Extreme Weather Challenges for the Power System, Improving Grid Resilience with 3D Satellite Analytics & AI, FirstEnergy West Virginia coal plant purchase would lead company to retire another one, official says, Idaho National Labs open-source microreactor design and test bed spur start-up interest, Efforts to accelerate permitting could learn a thing or two from nuclear energy, State regulators urge PJM to speed interconnection for new generation in face of power plant retirements, A boom in wind energy is sparking controversy in, County officials are considering a moratorium on wind growth to review the adequacy of protections to residents and wildlife in present zoning laws, a change that could impede the progress in building renewables of utilities like DTE Energy, Wolverine Power, and, Local township residents are pushing for setbacks greater than 1,320 feet to protect them from having to live with. Nebraska Yes, certain areas due to their pristine nature. Wind industry declares war on Michigan man, Michigan Company, Lauded As A Face Of Green Energy in 2012, Now Defunct, Granholm Wind Scheme Lauded At First, But Then Fell Into Obscurity When It Failed, .page .article .comments .fb-comments { solution to even this specific situation would bring us all one step Quebec max-width: none !important; live in or migrate across Lake Michigan. 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. They are often controversial even there, but one company wants to put a wind farm in an Upper Peninsula forest. Since then, the price of gas has increased substantially, from an average of $2.95 per gallon in April 2021 to $4.55 in May 2022 the month the new survey was conducted. They have stated publicly that they will need support from local communities and other business partners (or purchase power agreements) before this project would move forward. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality also still needs to provide approval for certain construction activities, Tillman said. Developers will need to build larger and more efficient wind turbines, comparable in size to midsized skyscrapers,improve grid infrastructure and make anticipated improvements in battery storage "for wind to realize its full potential, said Steve Transeth a former Michigan public service commissioner. Is a new wind energy development right for your community? Saint Lucia Estonia Invested over $900 million in electric and gas infrastructure Began operations at Michigans largest wind park Partnered with Toyota to provide clean energy for the automakers research and development operations Granted $3 million to feed Michiganders through the DTE Foundation Reduced customer gas rates Launched skilled-trade "We figure people have the right to do what they want on their own land, but we're not going to choose a side in the matter.". Members of the Juniata Township planning commission voted to approve a special land use request by wind turbine supplier NextEra Energy Resources. On April 19, Neumann and Schindler received an email from David Ivan, who works at another arm of the MSU Extension called the Greening Michigan Institute. Haggerty said if the project moves forward, the township would use the extra funds to improve roads, most likely taking care of drainage issues, laying down new gravel and possibly replacing some major gravel roads with black top.
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