2 new wind districts OK’d
BY
KATE HESSLING
Tribune Staff Writer
BAD AXE — Though the
topic was wind, there wasn’t much of a breeze to be had during Tuesday’s
public hearing Huron County commissioners held to receive input on the creation
of two new wind districts that could add about 50 new turbines in the area.
The atmosphere was hot and humid in the
Following the public hearing, the Huron County Board of
Commissioners approved amendments to the zoning ordinance that create two new
wind districts in
The first district, which was requested by Heritage
Sustainable Energy and DTE Energy, is a roughly 34-square mile area in
Bloomfield, Rubicon and Sigel townships.
Rick Wilson, of Heritage Sustainable Energy, previously
said the district is for a proposed development that is between 60 and 80
megawatts. The total number of turbines that could easily fit within this
district would be between 30 and 40, he said.
The second district, which was requested by DTE Energy, is
a roughly 4.25-square mile area in the southeasterly corner of
The majority in attendance at Tuesday’s public hearing
were in favor of the two new districts. Many encouraged the board to adopt the
amendments, stating the planning commission did a thorough and good job in its
recommendation to the board of commissioners to create the two new districts.
Those in favor of the two districts included some
individuals who live in existing wind farms and said they haven’t experienced
any problems and enjoy the wind turbines and the positive economic and
environmental benefits that have resulted from the projects.
Also, many noted the majority of
Others were concerned, however. Of them, some said they
were not opposed to wind energy development, they just wanted it done
responsibly — specifically so turbines are not sited too closely to homes and
result in the negative effects that have been reported by some Ubly-area
residents. Others felt wind energy is not an efficient or economically viable
source of energy.
There also were concerns that the developments harm the
county’s aesthetics and result in decreased property values. Those in favor of
future developments responded by saying property values only have increased in
agricultural districts, and many liked the way the existing developments have
changed the landscape.
Many of those who were concerned about future wind
development felt the county’s ordinance does not do enough to protect the
public health, safety and welfare.
But others at Tuesday’s hearing countered that the
county’s ordinance is adequate, and the board should not impose setbacks that
are too strict and unnecessarily restrict some agricultural areas from being
eligible to be included in a wind project. Those opposed to any future
development from happening without the ordinance being amended to include
further noise and setback protections said county officials haven’t considered
or discussed scientific studies and other documentation that has been submitted
to the board of commissioners and planning commission.
Some of those who expressed those concerns gave county
commissioners copies of that information at Tuesday’s hearing.
When it came time for the board to vote on whether to
approve the two new districts, Board Chairman Dave Peruski proposed the board
table its vote for a week so commissioners can review the information and input
given during the hearing. There was no support given to this idea, and the board
proceeded to have a roll call vote. All but Peruski voted in favor of approving
the amendments, and the measure passed 6 yes to 1 no.
Following the meeting, Peruski told the Tribune he didn’t
originally intend to vote against the amendments. Rather, he said, he did so
because he wanted more time for the board to do additional research before
making a decision to facilitate future development.
The county still has time for that work, however, as
officials and project developers have stressed the creation of the wind
districts is only a preliminary step in the development process. Additional
approval will be necessary during the site plan review process.
Peruski said he has no intentions of stopping development,
he just wants the county to ensure what has happened in Ubly does not happen in
future developments. He said he personally has been to turbines at both of the
area’s wind farms, and there are sites in the Ubly area wind farm that are
noticeably louder than those at the Elkton area wind farm. “There’s just a
world of difference — it mystifies me sometimes,” he said, noting the county
has to review its wind ordinance and make an attempt to work with wind companies
to prevent problems that are happening in Ubly from happening elsewhere in the
future.
Wagner added the local community is another measure of a
project’s success, and DTE Energy and other developers are more than aware of
that.
“Wind developers don’t want to come into an area where
everyone’s opposed to a project,” he said.
When asked if he feels the majority of Huron County favors
wind development, Wagner said Tuesday’s meeting spoke volumes — particular
at one point in the meeting when a majority of those in attendance stood up when
those in favor of wind energy were asked to stand.
At that point, about 80 to 85 percent of the crowd was on
its feet.
Copyright
© 2010 Huron Daily Tribune 07/07/2010