Arizona Big Potential Meets Big Opposition," Lastly, AEP claims that the townships setback requirements are unreasonable. 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. 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. Rural Americans do not want 680 ft wind turbines installed 1000 ft from their homes. The land is income-producing property. Nicaragua Will it be an eyesore left to fall apart? 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. Arvon is the highest point in Michigan. if ( dropdown.options[dropdown.selectedIndex].value > 0 ) { Chile 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. Tillman said the property setbacks are in place to protect people and homes from being injured or damaged. Nebraska wind farm projects cause controversy and heartache, one article in The Fence Post was titled. Philippines "And it's like, well, wait a minute.". There is also the slighter but still Federal incentives include the Production Tax Credit as well as the Investment Tax Credit. Some receive checks for hosting turbines on their land; the rest dread the intrusion to their senses. China 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. Italy The past few decades have seen a surge of wind energy development in U.S. Indiana Neighboring Fairgrove Township, which gave its approval last fall,would see 32, according to a report from MLive. 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. Question: Do wind turbines impact home values? I listened to a virtual meeting in a Virginia County last night. And in nearly every case, wind developments are being challenged by local residents. A legal battle over a proposed wind farm of 63 turbines is brewing in a small community in the Thumb area of Michigan. Denmark The turbines in total length must be one and a half times the length away from a property line and two times away from a home. Landowners get quarterly per-acre payments if the power company has a wind turbine on your land, or cables running underneath it. In addition to concerns about financial gain, residents have expressed concern with the safety and wildlife impact of the turbines, among other issues. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. However, she said she doesnt know if turbines result in a minimal or large drop in price. to population centers and, at times, certain tourist locations. still the question of proximity to the shoreline that has only been 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. 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. 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 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. The project has been in development for nearly 10 years and has strong support, according to Invenergy, a Chicago-based energy development company that is selling the wind projectto Consumers Energy when finished. We need to respect the energy we use the same way we respect the lakes. To date, there are 70,808 turbines covering 44 states and territories, which includes Guam and Puerto Rico. presence of the wind turbines could adversely affect the local tourist 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. 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. The people who are not participating landowners and not compensated should have some aspect of government listening to them. Scotland [1] On the other hand, the power companies see It will be very helpful to understand the wind turbine noise issues and big wind loses Lapeer County. Exelon began developing the $250-million Michigan Wind 3 project more than five years ago. By: Mikayla Temple. And all because of a slew of tax breaks and mandates to remove a free-market situation. Comments on social media warned that the Huron County cancellation does not mean DTE is through. The proliferation of wind projects has faced backlashes elsewhere in the state. The MSU Extension Service is an arm of MSU that identifies and solves farm, home, and community problems through the practical application of research findings. Lawmakers approved a $29.2 million appropriation for it in the current state budget, a 2 percent increase over the previous year. one of them to pay off, thus drawing the attention of the public from 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. max-width: none !important; The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality also still needs to provide approval for certain construction activities, Tillman said. In addition to concerns about financial gain, residents have expressed concern with the safety and wildlife impact of the turbines, among other issues. Jim Wiegand, A project of the institute for energy research, Nebraska wind farm projects cause controversy and heartache. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. Because the wind farm will now every year. National Lakeshores and wilderness areas should probably be considered off limits. var dropdown = document.getElementById("cat"); South Dakota 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. Wales One lawsuit was filed by residents opposed to the project, and the other by the projects developer, American Electric Power. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Residents who live near the $250 million plant began complaining of health problems shortly after the In other areas, the buffer zone from shore will need to be carefully considered to make sure that other uses are not unreasonably impacted. Delaware How can we fight big business (developing wind)? closer to solving the energy controversies of the world. Sherri Lange Nothing is going to change until our representatives begin to feel how much we are suffering the waste. Township officials denied the groups appeal of its decision to grant conditional-use land permits to the Crescent Wind project. 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. 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. While we share your disappointment with the outcome, it does not diminish our great appreciation for your ceaseless support. The phase consists of 50 turbines with 1.8MW nameplate capacity. The district has used the extra funds to pay down its bond each year as well as lower the millage rate, having an impact on both the schools budget and local taxpayers. 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. While David Tillman, Exelon director of nuclear communications, declined to release the lease agreements, Dean Kritzman was willing to share the lease he signed. Mexico margin: 0 -8px !important; 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. protect our planet. The turbines have an impact on wildlife, just like any human-made structure or energy source, the challenge is to figure out how to measure where to draw the line between negative impact and positive gain. August 2, 2019 | "If (the township government)would have done the vote correctly in the first place, we wouldn't have had a leg to stand on.". If your neighbor does something on your ground thats not neighborly, you should have a say. Sri Lanka Prince Edward Island Donate 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. such as extra electricity and a potential help to the economy, as 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. function onCatChange() { Listening to the public comments at that meeting was almost identical to listening to comments in North Branch Township and in Burlington Township and in Almer Township and everywhere else Ive been in the state of Michigan.. and last updated 2021-05-03 06:39:21-04. With the taxes deferred, promises made, work begun it will be too late for reflection, when you finally realize its all done with your money. Syria A 500-foot wind turbine," Pollard said. 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. They also claim that township officials knew about the filers circumstances and did not act in their best interest when they approved AEPs special use permit. Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar 10. solution to even this specific situation would bring us all one step Japan Wind turbines accounted for about 53 percent of renewable energy generated in Michigan in 2016, according to the Energy Information Administration. We wont know for sure what we get until we get the first check. people are not fond of building power plants close to where they live, 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. Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind II Farm) will be equipped with Vestas Wind Systems V100-1.8 MW turbines. The group now has more than 110 members. Because of this, Exelon filed a tax appeal to ensure their wind projects were properly assessed. Aegir Project," Letter to the Boards of Commissioners of Mason and Its amazing the effect of waving dollar bills in front of the officials has on their judgement and decision making. "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. England A broad majority of Americans (69%) favor the United States taking steps to become carbon neutral by 2050, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January. The legislation recommended by the council requires developers to do a site-specific assessment of their parcel. Trust is earned. LOCATIONS [1] R. Mertens, Nova Scotia clean energy arguing against a certain clean energy source sounds so width: 100% !important; Print Edition The developers hoped the electricity-generating project, dubbed the Kenowa Ridge Wind Farm Project, could be built by 2020. Australia The Michigan Wind 3 would be eligible to collect about $3,519 annually. The push followsa recent report that found the California Independent System Operators energy market saw additional wholesale costs of $3 billion in December. AEP took control of the project after it bought Sempra Energys wind turbine assets in 2019. Alaska Pollardsaid he opposes thewind developmentbecause he believes it wouldruin the area's artesian wells and kill bats and birds. Question:Why so many wind turbines? Baldwin, of the Michigan Public Service Commission, said most recent wind farms in the Thumb area have an average capacity range of 35 to 40 percent. Manitoba 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. region. In May, voters in Huron County defeated permissive windmill zoning proposals by a vote of nearly two to one. Lets finish this strong., Sadly it will likely take YEARS for many to recover from this divide., We need to continue to engage in our community. Each complainant said ongoing health issues could be negatively impacted or exacerbated if the wind farm is erected. Wind energy is not a good neighbor. Editorials MW. 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. Let Utility Dive's free newsletter keep you informed, straight from your inbox. width: auto !important; Puerto Rico Since it is difficult to claim any energy source as ideal, conservative Mason said by the time an inspector comes to survey the number of dead animals, another animal most likely already ate its remains. 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. completely in the scope of this paper. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, DTE energy has an agreement to take ownership of a yet-to-be-completed Polaris wind project in Gratiot County. 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. Wolverine Power Cooperative is the company that will be buying the energy from Exelon and then distributing it to customers. Belgium wind energy. 18 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. Kritzman said he was not told what the average yearly payment was expected to be, and Tillman declined to provide an expected average. 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. We would hope to bring the project online by the end of 2018.. They began by stealthily contacting absentee landowners, with promises of income unaffected by weather. Peru Lakes Eyed for Offshore Wind Farms. Many have put their families and their community name on the line to go against their neighbors to fight for what they believe in. In 2016, the United States Geological Survey began tracking wind turbines. Thailand In 2008, then-Gov. Nonetheless, coming up with a Mariana Islands Question: What happens when the turbine stops working? From those two wind turbine projects, Sanilac County saw an additional $1.5 million is tax revenue. The controversy continues a years worth of consternation over the wind farm project. Virgin Islands Alberta attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. 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 About Accounting for the average Thumb-area wind production capacity, Kritzman would receive an average yearly stipend of about $7,569. http://www.scandiawind.com/AegirGrid.html, Lake Michigan wind farm plan generates angst, highlights work of Wind Council. In Hillsdale County, an anti-wind development group plannedto sue Wheatland Townshipover the planned 60-turbine project inWheatland and neighboring Adams and Moscow townships, but realized it didn't have enough money to move forward with the suit. Slovakia "We are not against green energy, clean energyany of that at all. Two lawsuits have been filed against Casnovia Township since it approved a special use permit for the wind farm in April. The incentives are driving a wind turbineboom across the country. display: block !important; it is much more expensive to build any kind of power plant far from Maine Black Enterprises, located near the wind farm, causing substantial economic harm to plan participants. A boom in wind energy is sparking controversy in Huron County, at the tip of Michigan's thumb. The ordinance was contained in a pamphlet that was posted in March 2017 and pulled down later in the spring. Florida Those appeals are pending. Copyright Law and similar fair dealing provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. U.K. Exelon is still waiting for land use applications to be reviewed by Bridgehampton and Marion townships. area, which includes cities like Chicago and Detroit. farm. Print Edition Question: What is the likelihood the turbines break or catch fire? Michigan Wind Farm (Michigan Wind III Farm - Phase I) will be equipped with GE Renewable Energy turbines. District of Columbia After years of argumentation and controversy, Detroit-based DTE Energy (formerly Detroit Edison) cancelled wind leases in North Branch and Burlington Townships in Lapeer County, MI for what would have been a $300 million, 50-turbine project. Saint Lucia Meanwhile, three members of the Casnovia Township Board of Trustees are now facing recall attempts based on their votes to approve the permit. "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. Black Enterprises Inc., live or are located within 300 feet of the proposed wind turbine site. Juniata Township Clerk Heidi Stark declined a request for comment. Stone says township officials with a financial conflict have recused themselves from the decision-making process. AEP wants to build 31 wind turbines across portions of Casnovia Township in Muskegon County and Tyrone Township in Kent County. very specific areas, and to them it seems counterintuitive that there At the end of 2012, there were 160 turbines in the Huron County. 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. The recommendations in that version would allow for turbines and their towers to be located closer to property lines, where they might have a greater effect on neighbors. Big Potential Meets Big Opposition, Great Norwegian developers are proposing the states first offshore wind farm in Lake Michigan near Pentwater. Topics covered: solar tech, business models, regulation and policy, distributed solar, utility solar. | Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig. Email investigative reporter Nicole Hayden with your questions atnhayden@gannett.comor tweet her @nicoleandpig.

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