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michigan wind turbines controversy

    michigan wind turbines controversy

    Apex says their current internal standard is to use the base of the turbine to the tip of the blade as part of how they measure a safe distance. function onCatChange() { recent recession, the industries in the region around Lake Michigan were We support that," said Erik Benko. Netherlands Panama In rural communities, proposals to erect office-building-high wind turbines pit neighbor against neighbor. ", "We're just a poor community. However, this risk is likely lower than the danger of coal prices escalating sharply in the next decade and causing the same economic disruption as $4 a gallon gasoline did. Tillman said the property setbacks are in place to protect people and homes from being injured or damaged. Colorado [1] R. Mertens, There's no question about that," said Transeth, founder and principle partner ofTranseth and Associates, whichprovideslegal and consulting services in energy and utility law. "There is going to be a pushback. Bridgehampton Townships planning commission members voting on the project after the majority of the voting body had already signed personal land lease contracts with Exelon Knight also has concerns about the safety of the structures and the impact they will have on non-participating properties. Pollard, a six-year resident,founded Informed Citizens of Wheatland Township in August when he learned a wind turbine would go up near his house. Michigan Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Our infrastructures are crumbling from neglect and lack of money. "Wind 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. From the discussion, it is apparent that there is no } The top of Michigan At 1,979 feet, Mt. The land is income-producing property. wind turbines will provide a large amount of cheap, clean power to the [ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=93800 ], Wind farm east of Muskegon met with lawsuits, recall attempts. The phase consists of 7 turbines, each Montana arguments for the construction of the wind farm. One must check this https://www.durasteel.co.nz/ it gives us more info on this topic. Kenya Because of the The emails used in this story were received in response a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to MSU by Mason County Planning CommissionerCary Shineldecker. The ruling came amid a push from the Biden administration for more renewable energy, including a large expansion of offshore wind farms. They are also told the other neighbors have signed on, you might as well sign too. The proliferation of wind projects has faced backlashes elsewhere in the state. As a result, more Ontario But that's not enough to assuage residents concerned that wind turbines will destroy their rural quality of life. 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 And in nearly every case, wind developments are being challenged by local residents. Water depth will be tricky in many areas due to current constraints on turbine placement in water over 50 meters. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy The turbines would be on a different location further back on the same property as an earlier project pursued by Farm Wind Energy. I will tell you, you can see those turbines from three to four miles away, Kritzman said. Sempra Renewables proposed the project in 2018. With their foot in the door, money supposedly spent, they will then seek a tax deferment for getting a good start. According to Humm, Answer: While the project spans 20,000 acres across four townships, a single turbinephysically sits on one acre of land. Industrial wind power, a government created and enabled industry, is not only about the uneconomic. The industry is not whom I expected to hear from since they had such a large role in the development of the sample zoning in the first place.. DTEs wind parks are doing more than generating clean energy; theyre also strengthening Michigans economy. Rural communities that host wind energy projects benefit from the added tax revenue these projects generate, and farmers who host turbines and other infrastructure on their property appreciate the extra income this provides. Morocco Rick Snyder signed legislation mandating the state get 15 percent of its energy from renewables by 2021. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. When you find a community in Michigan that has no conflicted officials you will NOT find wind developments. Webeasy solution to the controversy surrounding the Lake Michigan wind farm. Arizona Members of the Juniata Township are built far away from residential areas or tourist locations. Demand our elected officials require more investments by our utilities in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The filers, Jonathan and Jennifer Armstrong, Ron Fritz and P.D. Actually I expected to hear from the anti-wind energy folks, Schindler said in the email. | } Rhode Island "The project went through several regulatory review processes, all of which were open to the public, and received unanimous approval each time.". The wind developer also has promised to repair any roads it uses while constructing wind turbines, Stone said. Tanzania It would also be a clean source of energy because But when you once say yes, you are caught in your own trap. 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. The proliferation of wind projects has faced backlashes elsewhere in the state. Each petition was approved by the Muskegon County Election Commission on June 17. Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind III Farm - Phase I) will be equipped with GE Renewable Energy turbines. South Dakota We wont know for sure what we get until we get the first check. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail. 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. Those appeals are pending. In other areas, the buffer zone from shore will need to be carefully considered to make sure that other uses are not unreasonably impacted. As for bats, Mason said turbines are especially dangerous. Colombia The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality also still needs to provide approval for certain construction activities, Tillman said. Pennsylvania Moving forward, there is expected to be no retroactive tax appeals for the Michigan Wind 3 project since the updated values have now been set in place at the local municipal level. Consumers Energy is expanding its Cross Winds Energy Parkin Tuscola County in the thumb. DTE energy has an agreement to take ownership of a yet-to-be-completed Polaris wind project in Gratiot County. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Donate | Contact Us, 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. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig. Oceana Counties, Michigan, Scandia Wind Offshore LLC, 2 Mar 10. 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. Huron County in Michigan's thumb area imposed a moratorium on wind farms in 2015. They are often controversial even there, but one company wants to put a wind farm in an Upper Peninsula forest. All rights reserved. But the company isnt the only party that gets a financial reward forraising wind turbines. Spain Brazil Denmark All rights reserved. We are a very divided community because of this. In May, voters in England 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. A case in point is HAVGUL Clean Energy and its plan Using alternative energy sources has always created Nebraska 2023 www.detroitnews.com. The project, spread over the two townships, would be the third wind farm developed by NextEra in the county. Nothing is going to change until our representatives begin to feel how much we are suffering the waste. The company is heavily involved in the current Michigan wind farm expansion. 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. if ( dropdown.options[dropdown.selectedIndex].value > 0 ) { wind farm does not solve all of the problems associated with it. because of the wind farm. Finland Because of this, Exelon filed a tax appeal to ensure their wind projects were properly assessed. 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. margin: 0 -8px !important; The controversy continues a years worth of consternation over the wind farm project. Black Enterprises Inc., live or are located within 300 feet of the proposed wind turbine site. 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. The joys, the pains, the challenges. Tillman said during both turbine malfunctions no person or property was damaged. The plan, for up to 200 turbines within two miles of Silver Lake sand dunes, has generated controversy statewide. |. 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 It increases our tax base and increases our revenue.. Others worried, as Jennifer Armstrong has, about shadow flicker from turbine blades. The share of Americans who are very or somewhat likely to purchase an electric car or truck is about the same as in April 2021. WebMeridian Wind is located in mid-Michigan's Midland and Saginaw counties. Topics covered: utility-scale storage, distributed storage, storage technologies, policy and regulations, and more. width: 100% !important; margin: 0 -8px !important; An open house was held by Apex Clean Energy at the Douglass Township Hall to share more information about the project. Mariana Islands Russ Mason, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife chief, said the turbines have little impact on ground animals such as deer, but a major impact on birds and bats. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation creating a mandate called the renewable energy portfolio standard that requires the state to get 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Of that pot of money, Deckerville Community Schools received about $57,000 in 2015. Italy paradoxical; yet, that is exactly what has happened in the case of using British Columbia Oklahoma One company is seeking to construct 75 wind turbines in Montcalm County. and last updated 2021-05-03 06:39:21-04. Mexico Will it be an eyesore left to fall apart? How can we fight big business (developing wind)? While a vote has yet to be taken, it appears that the North Branch Board will adopt a restrictive ordinance as well. The company says the need for the project is greater than ever due to Michigan closing some of its power and nuclear plants, along with residents in support of the project. Wind turbines accounted for about 53 percent of renewable energy generated in Michigan in 2016, according to the Energy Information Administration. Roger Knight, 66, of Bridgehampton Townshipis one of those individuals not yet convinced. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Vietnam Virginia U.S. Wind farms generally do not present a problem if they 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. MSU then posted a revised version on Aug. 24. Greece 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. [2] S. Warner, "The While DTE says it plans to get that capacity from a number of different sources, a conservative estimate is that it will need hundreds of additional wind turbines to hit that goal. Yet, many people complain that the 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. Add to this the current crisis surrounding the coronavirus . The problem itself, in fact, is far too complex to evaluate completely in the scope of this paper. One local government official suspects that the original study was pulled down due to industry pressure. Posted at 6:00 AM, May 03, 2021 . } We need to respect the energy we use the same way we respect the lakes. As to the structures themselves, the state can protect itself from other risks by requiring the developer to purchase bonds to ensure structures are maintained and properly removed after their useful life. 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. 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. living around Lake Michigan that are taking the side of Scandia Wind. All 30 communities in Michigan that host wind turbines have conflcited officials who receive a direct financial benefit from the wind energy companies after approving a weak but pro wind sponsored wind ordinance. New Hampshire 18 of which would be long-term positions that would be created indirectly area, which includes cities like Chicago and Detroit. The revised pamphlet also allows for much louder turbine operations. Answer: Yes. Jordan [1] On the other hand, the power companies see A wind-energy project in anUpper Peninsula community announced that its decided to stop development of a project in April in the face of delays and opposition. population centers than nearby because it is more expensive to transmit Kritzman, 81, of Marion Townshiphas lived on his land for 55 years and doesnt mind seeing the three turbines that are already about four miles from his home every day. That has allowed the school district to decrease its millage rate from 0.82 mills to 0.1 mill in the past year. They are currently in the public engagement stage holding a number of public and private meetings with people in the community regarding the proposal. to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with Kritzman said he was not told what the average yearly payment was expected to be, and Tillman declined to provide an expected average. "Invenergy has worked openly and transparently with community members, townships and the county during (the past 10 years)," Lambrecht said. Yet we continue to provide subsidies and tax credits to make it appear we are green. A boom in wind energy is sparking controversy in Huron County, at the tip of Michigan's thumb. 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. Lesotho Antigua and Barbuda 6 The average installed cost of a small (<100 kW) turbine was approximately $9,500 per kW in 2020. Nova Scotia Two lawsuits have been filed against Casnovia Township since it approved a special use permit for the wind farm in April. But you should know, all the money we received from the windmills since 2012 is being appealed through the (Michigan Tax Tribunal), so we may have to pay some of the money back and we dont know how much we would have to pay back yet, Pawlowski said. Let Utility Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. Croatia Cyprus The original plan called for a 1,000 MW wind farm, 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. The recommended setbacks in the revised version are less than half this distance, potentially allowing spinning turbine blades in greater proximity to neighbors homes. AEP took control of the project after it bought Sempra Energys wind turbine assets in 2019. Its not some communities, nor is it many or most communities. Press releases "We are not against green energy, clean energyany of that at all. }. 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. We must stay alert and vigilant. Nebraska wind farm projects cause controversy and heartache, one article in The Fence Post was titled. Engie employees walk down a road for a closer look at wind turbines during a tour for the dedication of the Limestone Wind Project in Dawson, Texas, on February 28, Europe LOCATIONS Latvia Wind turbines from General Electric produce between 1.7 to 4.8 megawatts. Norwegian developers are proposing the states first offshore wind farm in Lake Michigan near Pentwater. The original MSU Extension Service pamphlet released March 6 was written by staff member Kurt Schindler and reviewed by Brad Neumann, also on the MSU staff. Jamaica In the complainants view, the board failed to find adequate evidence that the wind farm complied with the townships zoning ordinance. Norway than before, but there will still be large regions from which the wind Mississippi Those residents who sign lease deals with Exelon, allowing the company to build a wind turbine on their property, get a yearly reimbursement. The township board also worried about blade delamination, or the breakdown of the laminated coating of wind turbine blades. Alabama Lisa Linowes "But no, they're just shoving it down our throat.". significant impact that the wind farm could have on the animals that But while momentum is growing, significantchallenges lie ahead. Luxembourg The leases provide a guaranteed revenue stream for property owners and local farmers, offsetting fluctuations in crop prices or yields, Tillman said in a statement. the project down by half, many issues still remained unsolved. Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind II Farm) will be equipped with Vestas Wind Systems V100-1.8 MW turbines. The Michigan Wind 3 turbines are expected to have a more than 30-year lifespan. 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 { Talk to your neighbors about the importance of supporting industries that will put young people back to work in the manufacturing sector. Youre playing Russia roulette with a wind turbine, and nobody wants to do that," said Tim Thornhill, a local farmer. Some communities welcome wind farm developments, but in others, proposals for wind farms have led to legal and political strife. the cost for electricity would be smaller than if the plant were built 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. Offshore wind is a new industry for the Great Lakes and thus poses some challenges. On April 20, Schindler sent an email to his MSU colleagues; he said he was surprised that the document was being questioned by wind industry interests. Madagascar While David Tillman, Exelon director of nuclear communications, declined to release the lease agreements, Dean Kritzman was willing to share the lease he signed. Go to local meetings and support renewable energy projects in your area. North Dakota "And I think there's hard feelings for some people.. When operational, the 225 megawatt wind park will have 77 wind turbines and generate attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. The project is expected to contribute an estimated $65 million over 25 years to the Hillsdale County economy, support 250 construction jobs and create a still undetermined number offull-time operations and maintenance positions, said Invenergy Senior Analyst Ben Lambrecht. The reimbursement that the company receives is based on the amount of electricity generated. The The developers hoped the electricity-generating project, dubbed the Kenowa Ridge Wind Farm Project, could be built by 2020. The community divide concerning a wholly unnecessary project was also noted in social media comments: [] https://www.masterresource.org/wind-turbine-noise-issues/big-wind-loses-lapeer-county/ [], [] Big Wind Throws in the Towel in Lapeer County, Michigan (grassroots environmentalism prevails) []. Oregon 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 wind turbine project would create thousands of jobs, some The Kalamink Wind Project could bring wind turbines to five mid-michigan townships. 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.. Although this document is not meant as a guidebook But still, Kritzman has no idea what to expect in terms of payment. In addition to the lease payments, Tillman said the local community will benefit from job creation spawned by the project. 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. So what we need to do is: http://www.michiganglowcouncil.org/ http://www.scandiawind.com/AegirGrid.html, 602 W Ionia St, Lansing, MI 48933, United States, Created By STORYLICIOUS With NationBuilder. WebConsumer's Energy has constructed a meteorological tower in rural Elmwood Township, in Tuscola County, to lay the groundwork for planned wind development in the area. Arvon is the highest point in Michigan. Renewables opponents must answer questions about climate changes far more severe environmental impacts and recognize renewables significant local economic benefits. Wales © Fedja Kadribasic. The share of Americans who are very or somewhat likely to purchase an electric car or truck is about the same as in April 2021. Some wind farm developers have sued communities, contending that their zoning ordinance is too restrictive. Juniata Township Clerk Heidi Stark declined a request for comment. wildlife and the migratory patterns of birds that fly over Lake Michigan AEP wants to build 31 wind turbines across portions of Casnovia Township in Muskegon County and Tyrone Township in Kent County. The author grants permission Virgin Islands further away because the company would have to invest fewer resources to 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. In light of our questions in this matter, we asked our own expert on acoustics to weigh in, Wagner said. Several factors have weighted into our decision-making. The May 19, 2020, letter from Matt Wagner, DTEs Manager of Renewable Energy Development read: This is a difficult letter to write given how hard many of you have worked to help advocate for a DTE Electric Company (DTE) wind energy project in your community. The legislation recommended by the council requires developers to do a site-specific assessment of their parcel. one of them to pay off, thus drawing the attention of the public from Yet there is little to no evidence of the negative impact because it is hard to measure bird and bat deaths by turbines. The phase consists of 50 turbines with 1.8MW nameplate capacity. We are so thankful for your partnership and advocacy over these last few years. 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. In 2018, it published a database with wind turbine records that it keeps regularly updated. Canada Israel Vehicle prices have also increased Theres an urgency to movingforward with the project Consumers Energy needs work to start by Dec. 31 to qualify for millions of dollars in federal tax credits. Guam 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy Turkey Coal ash piles leaching acidic discharge into our Great Lakes are ugly. width: auto !important; Romania Ivan announced that he had asked that the original version of the study be pulled from the website until we have a chance to add some of those qualifies [sic] we discussed., According to Ivan, he discussed the pamphlet with an attorney representing Florida-based NextEra Energy, one of the nations largest wind farm developers. There is recovery. India I think wind turbines are a thing of beauty, combining grace with function. DTE Energy, which already purchases electricity from two NextEra wind farms in the county, plans to add 4,000 megawatts in renewable capacity over the next few decades. environmentalists are claiming that it will disrupt local marine The bigger issue people dont talk about is bat mortality, Mason said. France [2] One is that the South Carolina With the enticement of expected high-dollar dividends and federal production tax credits, the article explained, some residents in Cherry County and nearby communities are struggling with daily life challenges, which they attribute to numerous turbines emerging across the landscape.. The problem itself, in fact, is far too complex to evaluate Amid continued controversy and delayed application reviews, the 499-foot turbines have yet to sprout. very specific areas, and to them it seems counterintuitive that there He says Isabella Wind will produce nearly twice the amount of power as the current largest wind farm in Michigan - enough to power one hundred and thirty thousand American homes. Question:Why so many wind turbines? If Michigan residents truly love their lakes and want to see Michigan prosper, they need to embrace all forms of clean energy including wind, solar and investments in energy efficiency. [2] To put this farm. The first set of risks involves the impact on birds, wildlife, aquatic ecosystems and bats. While some folks think the wind turbine trade-offs such as seeing the towering structures amid acres of farmland are minimal compared to the community and individual financial gain, others are not so sure. You know, the clean energy was the one thing and then the second thing, they paid us to lease, was why we first signed up.. I listened to a virtual meeting in a Virginia County last night. Members of the Juniata Township planning commission voted to approve a special land use request by wind turbine supplier NextEra Energy Resources. A fourth board member was targeted for a recall, but the Tuscola County election board rejected the petition language. More than 60% of Michigan electricity currently comes from coal-fired power plants. Bridgehampton, Marion and Washington townships will be home to the actual turbines while Custer Township will make room for supporting equipment. Puerto Rico turbines will be very beneficial for the local economy. There is also a large group of the people Texas The new law increases by 50 percent the amount of renewable energy that utilities must use, which in Michigan means more wind turbines. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. Are there places where Michigan should consider not allowing offshore turbines? Most "I got a letter at my house on July the first of this year come to find out there's going to be one right behind my house. Opinions 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.

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