Wind Power News: Michigan

The Clinton County Board of Commissioners could consider passing a one-year-long moratorium on any large-scale solar or wind energy projects. The unanimous vote from the county’s planning commission comes as large-scale green energy plants clash with residents’ concerns over the future of their rural farmland. Thursday’s public hearing comes weeks after Clinton County’s Planning Commission first looked into a county ordinance on wind and solar that they called “outdated.” See More: Clinton County to draft moratorium on green power plants . . .

Wind energy activists believe they have found an explanation for the waning popularity of wind projects in Michigan and around the county: a cult of homeowners whose objection to turbines is, according to a new video clip, wholly irrational. ‘Like a Cult’, a documentary-style ten-minute video from environmental activist Peter Sinclair and Yale Climate Connections, attacks local residents and officials in Michigan who express concerns about wind energy projects in their townships. The video singles out Kevon Martis, Deerfield Township . . .

After reading Don Smucker’s analysis of Montcalm County’s green energy conflict in the Jan. 21 Daily News, I am also very concerned – but for a different reason. The wind ordinance issue will be resolved, but I am concerned some people in our society hold democracy in such contempt. Smucker boils down the problem quite nicely: “(Some people) simply do not want to look at any wind turbine … because they do not like how they look.” A simple summation based . . .

Monticello, Ill. – Depressed property values. Flickering shadows. Falling ice. One by one, a real estate appraiser rattled off what he said were the deleterious effects of wind farms as a crowd in an agricultural community in central Illinois hung on his every word. It was the tenth night of hearings by the Piatt County zoning board, as a tiny town debated the merits of a proposed industrial wind farm that would see dozens of enormous turbines rise from the nearby . . .

(WPBN/WGTU) – The wind turbine that supplies energy to the Northport Leelanau Township Water Treatment plant is looking a little different now. According to Northport Trustee, Will Harper, high wind speeds on Wednesday, Dec. 14, caused the turbine to spin out of control and eventually fall to the ground. Harper also said the turbine has been out of commission for a while, and he’s unsure if it will be fixed.

Leelanau Community Energy’s wind turbine in Northport sits in a heap at the base of its tower after the upper section broke off. It happened some time between sundown Thursday and sunup Friday, said Douglas McInnis, a manager and investor for Leelanau Community Energy. The company, which owns the turbine, had it offline while awaiting maintenance. Those maintenance items pertained to electronics, motors and other components involved in the turbine’s operation, McInnis said. None should have caused the tower to . . .

A debate between Consumers Energy and Tuscola County could result in essential bankruptcy for county school districts and Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District. Since wind farms were constructed in the county in 2016 there has been an ongoing dispute between Consumers Energy and the county on the tax applied to the farms. There are currently 114 turbines that are being valued lower than what was originally agreed upon prior to construction. These turbines produce 231 megawatts of power for the county. . . .

Tuscola County, MI – The sword of Damocles hanging over Unionville-Sebewing Area Schools has Consumers Energy written all over it. The rural district of about 680 students in Tuscola County is facing down a financial abyss thanks to the state’s largest energy provider, which is attempting to claw back nearly $1.2 million in disputed tax revenues levied on wind power turbines. Officials say the case threatens to wipe out district fund balances and toss them into deficit status with the state. . . .

Wind energy businesses are targeting local zoning ordinances after their campaign to coat Michigan with large vertical turbines lost four referenda and seven local government allies in this month’s election. “You ever hear that old saying about winning a battle, but losing the war? Now seems like an appropriate time to reflect on that,” Apex Clean Energy’s senior development manager Albert Jongewaard wrote in an email, after voters throughout Montcalm County rejected wind energy supporters and ballot initiatives. “It’s no . . .

Some Tuscola County school districts say they’re regretting their decision to enter into tax revenue agreements with Consumers Energy after the utility sought tax clawbacks related to wind turbine depreciation. Consumers Energy is suing more than a hundred schools, townships, and social service groups in Tuscola County, seeking about $8 million in tax clawbacks. More than a decade ago, the districts and other groups agreed to allow Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and standalone wind energy companies like Next Energy to . . .

Trufant, MI – Rural voters delivered a crushing blow to plans for a 375 megawatt wind farm in mid-Michigan, where several local renewable energy ordinances were defeated across three townships and multiple officials were thrown from office for supporting the project. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, midterm voters resoundingly rejected ordinances enabling the Montcalm Wind project by Apex Clean Energy, a developer attempting to erect 75 turbines on farmland in Montcalm County northeast of Grand Rapids. Zoning ordinances in Maple Valley, Douglass . . .

Wind farms continue to pop up like mushrooms across Michigan’s landscape, and with them, plenty of backlash from energy, economic and environmental public policy experts. Michigan ranks 15th for total wind generation nationwide, according to a 2021 study released by Commodity.com, which was updated last May. The study reports wind provides 8% of the total electricity consumed by the nation’s homes, government entities and businesses, while contributing 7% to Michigan’s electricity grid. While proponents tout the environmental benefits of wind . . .

A Canadian-owned developer is continuing to work on bringing a wind turbine facility to Ionia County, a project which has been pending for well over a decade now. Leeward Renewable Energy confirmed with the Daily News that the company is still actively working on the project. “Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) is developing a wind facility in the Ionia County area, which will bring additional energy generation, construction jobs and other anticipated long-term economic benefits to the community,” Leeward said in . . .

Four more officials in two more townships are now facing recalls related to their votes on wind and solar energy ordinances. Cato Township Supervisor Larry Gilbert, Clerk Todd Lincoln and Trustee Jourdan Lindsay are all facing a recall attempt after they voted to approve their township’s proposed wind energy ordinance, while Belvidere Township Supervisor John Anderson is also facing a recall attempt for his votes regarding his township’s wind and solar ordinances. A recall clarity hearing for both matters is . . .

Chicago-based Invenergy has filed a lawsuit in Gratiot County Circuit Court on behalf of the Heartland Farms Wind Project claiming Fulton Township violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when it denied a special land use permit that would have allowed the company to build 12 wind turbines in the township. Five other townships that are part of the proposed 72-turbine wind farm – Newark, New Haven, North Shade, North Star and Washington – have all approved the project. On April . . .

Arrogant, uneducated and stubborn are what the majority of the Cato Township Board proved themselves to be when they took a wrecking ball to the carefully crafted safe wind ordinance their Planning Commission developed as a result of over 1 1/2 years of intense study and personal sacrifice. Not only was it a contemptible act of disrespect of their planning commission, but to the Cato citizenry as well, who supported the original PC ordinance by at least a 10-1 ratio at . . .

The topic stems from allegations that Karnatz operated in his capacity as Planning Commission chairman with a conflict of interest because he failed to disclose previous arrangements with Apex Clean Energy, including signing “steering committee” and lease agreement documents, dating back to November 2019, while subsequently leading the Planning Commission as it worked on amending the township’s wind energy ordinance. As a result of the lease agreement, Karnatz has received compensation from Apex, leading several residents to allege a conflict of interest as he was also working to amend ordinances that could potentially affect the very turbines that could eventually be constructed on Karnatz’s property.

DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP – The Douglass Township Board voted at a special meeting Monday evening to place two wind energy ordinances on the November general election ballot after voters gathered enough signatures to referendum both ordinances. “The reason we’re here tonight is basically so we can get these referendums on the ballot in November,” Supervisor Terry Anderson said during the 10-minute meeting, which didn’t feature any public comment. Clerk Ronda Snyder read the resolution aloud and the board then voted 4-0 to . . .

The Winfield Township Board during yet another tense meeting on Thursday voted to pay a special clerk to run November’s general election as the current clerk is facing a recall, and voted to place a wind energy ordinance referendum on the ballot at that same election, even as a police investigation of the township board and township documents continues. Supervisor Phyllis Larson read aloud an Aug. 8 letter to the township from Montcalm County Clerk Kristen Millard, stating in part, . . .

When neighbor is pitted against neighbor, friendships are destroyed and nobody wins. For the past two years, the Daily News has been reporting on the collapse of our townships over discussions involving wind turbines. The only winner in all of this seems to be Apex Clean Energy, the non-Michigan wind energy company that has sat back and watched as people who used to be friends and colleagues disrespect each other with their words and actions. It’s time for townships to . . .

Monday’s vote resulted in anger, frustration and disappointment from the majority of the at least 60 people present who were squeezed into the Lakeview Village Office across the street from the Lakeview Community Center where the Cato Township Board typically meets. The different location was a poor choice for Monday’s meeting, as the Village Council chamber room is cozy and resulted in a standing room only with some people forced to try to listen to the meeting from the hallway and lobby outside. Before the vote, four Planning Commission members — including Behrenwald who sits on the PC — begged the township board to approve the ordinance as written, as did the majority of residents present. Jeremy Kwekel of Cato Township asked for a show of hands from those who support Apex’s Montcalm Wind project. Only four of the more than 60 people present raised their hands.

Although Winfield Township’s solar ordinance is separate from the township’s pending — and hotly disputed — wind ordinance, one colors the other, especially in light of the controversy surrounding township officials who have signed personal property leases with Apex Clean Energy, the Virginia-based wind developer looking to bring a wind turbine project to multiple townships in Montcalm County.

WThe Michigan State Police Lakeview Post is investigating the Winfield Township Board concerning certain township documents. The Daily News confirmed the investigation with MSP Sixth District Public Information Officer Michelle Robinson. “I cannot comment on any details as it is an open and ongoing investigation,” Robinson said. The Winfield Township Board has been in turmoil for quite some time now, mostly fallout related to how township officials are handling the creation of wind energy and solar energy ordinances. Supervisor Phyllis . . .

The old wind turbine off of M-72 West in Leelanau County has been fully decommissioned and removed. Traverse City Light and Power bought the turbine for roughly $764,000 in 1996. In 2014, the company sold the aging turbine to Heritage Sustainable Energy for just $1,100. Since then, Heritage has been dealing with the same struggles TCLP faced when the company first handed it over. “Currently- it’s just now since 2014- the unit is that much older, just to the point . . .

After multiple residents voiced concerns with a controversial 2017 wind energy ordinance, the Douglass Township Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend that the township board repeal it. The township board will vote on the recommendation at next Wednesday’s meeting; however, a pending ordinance similar to the 2017 wind ordinance still remains to be dealt with. Even if the township board repeals the 2017 ordinance, the township board voted earlier this month to approve a principle wind energy ordinance, as . . .

As the dust begins to settle from the chaos resulting from Apex Clean Energy’s massive commercial wind turbine proposal for Montcalm County, a practical solution to zoning ordinance provisions for Montcalm Township has emerged. It is protective, popular, community-based, legally sound, reasonable and should satisfy almost everyone. The three townships in Montcalm County that adjoin Montcalm Township have all adopted wind ordinances. Sidney, Eureka and Pine townships have adopted ordinances that are protective of their residents and their rural lifestyle, . . .

DTE Energy has settled a long-running tax dispute with townships over wind farms. The settlement means DTE will drop its tax appeals over the correct formula for depreciating the taxable value of wind turbines, and townships won’t have to pay back millions of dollars in taxes to the utility. Carl Osentosky is Executive Director of the Huron County Economic Development Corporation. Huron County has the most wind turbines in Michigan, according to a recent count. He said it’s hoped that . . .

The Cato Township Board was expected to vote on a wind energy ordinance on Monday evening. The township’s Planning Commission voted on June 9 to recommend the draft ordinance to the township board, so board members have been in possession of the draft for more than a month now. Planning commissioners were present Monday to answer any questions, as was the attorney who had assisted them. However, the township board voted 4-1 to table the ordinance. The reason behind the . . .

The Douglass Township Board voted 5-0 to approve two wind energy ordinances Wednesday evening, even as three township board members are in the process of being recalled, a fourth is facing a challenger in the August primary election, and both new ordinances will almost certainly go to a referendum. The board voted to approve a principle wind energy ordinance, as well as a second version of the ordinance which includes a “savings clause” regarding the township’s 2017 wind ordinance which . . .

STANTON – The Montcalm County Election Commission at a nearly two-hour recall clarity hearing Wednesday afternoon ruled that recall language petitions against the Montcalm Township clerk and three Winfield Township Board members could begin circulating for signatures. Petitioners have until Aug. 5 to gather the required amount of signatures in order for the recalls to appear on November’s general election ballot in Montcalm and Winfield townships (see info box below for pending recall language). Wednesday’s recall hearing also shed light on . . .

Despite the Fulton Township Board vetoing a plan to construct wind turbines in the township, the Heartland Wind Project will move forward in southern Gratiot County. Chicago-based Invenergy, the developer of the proposed 72-turbine wind farm, has received approval from the five other townships that will be part of the project. The construction of wind turbines in New Haven, North Shade, Newark and North Star townships was approved earlier this year. The final OK was given by the Washington Township . . .

A long litigation process over the taxation of wind farms in Huron County has ended following an agreement announced by DTE Energy June 29. The agreement, which also includes other wind farms around the state, settled on a new tax table that will be followed that is different from what the county and DTE were originally considering. This agreement also ensures that there will be no more litigation on the taxation of the wind farms’ land for the next 15 . . .

The Maple Valley Township Board in a 4-1 vote on June 13 approved a wind energy ordinance, which will almost certainly go to a voter referendum even as the township supervisor is facing a recall and is also headed to trial for an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Act. The vote came during yet another chaotic meeting in which the longtime treasurer resigned and the supervisor’s wife was appointed to the position. Meanwhile, a township resident and the zoning . . .

The brochure from Apex Clean Energy, (the entity trying to bring industrial wind turbines to Montcalm County), makes claims regarding conservation, property values and property rights. One claim is that the company works in consultation with environmental agencies and uses conservation measures to ensure that wind projects have no significant effects on bird/bat populations. Why, then, must landowners leave the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)? CRP is a conservation program in which farmers receive yearly payments to remove environmentally sensitive land . . .

When I spoke during public comment at the June 13 Maple Valley Township Board meeting, I stated should Apex Clean Energy build their wind turbines, signed landowners won’t even be able to plant a tree on their own property unless Apex approves. This is not the first time I have made that statement during a township meeting. Hearing this, many pro-wind supporters have reacted in disbelief with scoffs and laughter. Their response shows it is likely many signers have not . . .

The Bloomer Township Planning Commission continues to be in no hurry to vote on a wind and solar energy ordinance. The Planning Commission held a public hearing Wednesday evening on the draft ordinance – the second public hearing that’s been held on the matter. The 16-minute meeting adjourned with the Planning Commission once again declining to take action in advancing the ordinance to the township board. “I have on the agenda a call for a vote, but I’m not going to . . .

A total of 20 recall petitions were filed against three members of the Winfield Township Board after those board members voted last week to approve a controversial wind energy ordinance. Dave Meyers of Winfield Township on Tuesday filed eight petitions each against Supervisor Phyllis Larson and Clerk Colleen Stebbins and four petitions against Trustee John Black. Those three board members voted in favor of approving a wind ordinance, while Treasurer Cathy Killinger and Trustee Steve Cole voted “no” at a . . .

FREMONT TWP. – There was lengthy discussion during public comment at the Fremont Township board meeting last Thursday night, as members of the community voiced concerns about the potential wind turbine farms that will be located in Fremont and neighboring Speaker Township. While there was no new business regarding the project, it was stated at the meeting that the township may add 10 or 15 turbines to the total, a total which already includes 54 between the two townships, including 31 . . .

After deciding to send a proposed wind energy ordinance back to its Planning Commission on June 8, the Winfield Township Board called a special meeting less than a week later and reversed course. As a result, recall petitions were filed earlier this week against three board members and a wind ordinance referendum is pending. (See accompanying story.) “We couldn’t hear real well the other night,” Supervisor Phyllis Larson told those in attendance at the special June 15 meeting. Clerk Colleen . . .

“From what our commission has seen and heard over the past year and a half, the majority of taxpayers don’t seem to want the huge industrial machines scatted throughout the township, and I can’t say that I blame them. We are and have always been a rural agricultural community, not a rural industrial community,” Cato Township Planning Commissioner Brandi Clark Hubbard [told] the Montcalm County Planning Commission regarding her township’s proposed wind energy ordinance. Clark Hubbard was the only member of a local township Planning Commission to attend Monday’s meeting.

Why hurt your wrist scrolling through bottom of the barrel comments and insults plaguing Facebook and Twitter when you can simply attend a local township board meeting? The Winfield Township Board on Wednesday evening voted to send a wind energy draft ordinance back to the Planning Commission amid an absolutely chaotic meeting. The Daily News reporter, who was sitting in the front row close to the township board, struggled to hear much of the board’s discussion due to the never-ending . . .

From responding to daily voicemails to locating and sorting through stacks of paperwork, the first 20 days on the job as Montcalm Township supervisor have been a learning experience for Brian Blomstrom. Appointed last month following the resignation of former supervisor Doug Crowley, Blomstrom ran his first board meeting Wednesday evening while becoming acclimated with the nuances of the board in the process. “I’m still learning as we go,” he said toward the start of the meeting. “Hopefully we have . . .

This year will be remembered for the slew of recall efforts against officials in Ionia and Montcalm counties on a variety of topics ranging from wind and solar energy to budget issues to wastewater treatment. DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP On Monday, enough signatures were filed against three Douglass Township Board members related to the wind ordinance controversy in that township to place the recall on the November ballot. A total of 239 signatures were needed to initiate a recall against Supervisor Terry . . .

Climate experts have called for more renewable energy, with electric vehicles and wind energy rising in popularity. Apex Clean Energy wants to bring wind farms to Ingham County, more specifically Wheatfield Township. However, you could hear windmills in the future. Dr. Wanda Isa, who is a part of the Ingham County Citizens United (ICCU), lives in Wheatfield and is concerned about the noise wind turbines would bring if Apex Energy moves forward. The ICCU claims this could drive down property . . .

On May 7, [resident Kimberly] Croy had a Public Forum letter published in the Daily News stating in part to the Douglass Township Board, “You cannot even clean up Entrican in all these years, we cannot trust you to to enforce (wind) turbine violations.” [Resident Keith] Phelps then wrote a May 10 letter to Douglass Township Supervisor Terry Anderson with an attachment listing 29 names and addresses containing alleged unplated vehicles. Phelps’ letter and complaint was signed by himself only, but specifically referenced Croy’s letter to the editor.

The Douglass Township Planning Commission meeting had only been underway for a few minutes Wednesday evening when a verbal altercation resulted in a man being ordered to leave. The incident began when Robert Scott of Sidney Township asked Planning Commission Vice Chairwoman Tammy Sweeris whether she was aware that her father Keith Phelps and her brother Kevin Phelps had signed leases with Apex Clean Energy regarding property in Belvedere Township. Scott added that anything Sweeris says on the topic of . . .

The Douglass Township Planning Commission is recommending the township board approve two wind energy ordinances – a newly created one, plus one from 2017 that was never properly noticed or adopted – as well as recommending the board vote to rescind the 2017 ordinance altogether. The three votes came during a chaotic meeting Wednesday at which a man was ordered to leave the meeting after an outburst, a Planning Commission member was ordered to leave the table due to a conflict of . . .

The Oakfield Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on June 21 for proposed wind energy and solar energy ordinances. Township Supervisor Greg Dean requested that township attorney James Scales of the Mika Meyers law firm draw up the drafts, which the Planning Commission reviewed during a May 17 meeting. Planning Commission Chairman James Tilton, Township Board Trustee Bryan Porter and planning commissioners Anthony Marko, Dannie Marko, William Pelak, David Pusczak and Ashlee Vanderkooi were all present at the . . .

Bronson Township’s plan to create a zoning ordinance are dead. The township board in early 2020 named members to Bronson Township Planning Commission, with plans to begin meetings in March to draft an ordinance. COVID-19 and the lockdown intervened. “Everything kind of came to a screeching halt,” Township supervisor Ken Carpenter said. “We couldn’t meet face-to-face.” Some members of the planning commission did not have electronic access for Zoom meetings, Carpenter said. “Once they started to open things up, there . . .

In the sixth century BC, Athens had one of the earliest examples of a functioning democratic form of government. They used a pebble system where the men of the city would drop a white or black pebble into an urn for a yes or no vote. In 404 BC the Spartans conquered Athens but allowed a form of their government to remain. In 338 BC the Macedonians conquered Athens and expunged the last form of self government from the world. . . .