LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Wind energy company challenges Emmet County; New website launched against wind ordinance 

Credit:  Brandon Hubbard, Petoskey News, www.petoskeynews.com 10 December 2010 ~~

CROSS VILLAGE – A new website is taking aim at the ongoing debates about the noise level in the Emmet County wind ordinance.

Harbor Springs-based Lake Effect Energy Corporation, a wind energy producer, launched the website www.emmetcountymichigan.com Thursday in an attempt to generate public support and pressure on the Emmet County Planning Commission who has been debating the 35 decibel sound restriction for wind turbines under the county’s November 2009 Wind Ordinance.

“Michigan Looks to Expand Renewable Energy Portfolio – One County decides not to participate?” the website header reads.

The site plays on Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s announcement this week that Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., plans to use a facility in Saginaw to manufacture large wind turbines, positioning Michigan as a prime wind developer in the Midwest. Lake Effect Energy, which recently had a 55 decibel turbine approved in West Traverse Township under a separate ordinance, is hoping the county will raise its sound level to mirror the 55 decibel statewide regulation.

But, the Emmet County Planning Commission is reluctant to change the ordinance based on a single request – especially with the possibility of opening the county up to larger utility scale wind turbines without some form of control over what is built.

An Emmet County-hired wind energy expert supported the county ordinance in November, while another private expert questioned it last week. So, the final decision will likely come down to the January meeting.

“I think the planning commission is someone stuck about what to do at this point,” said Brentt Michalek, Emmet County Planning, Zoning and Construction Resources director. “At this point it could go either way.”

The website encourages members of the public to e-mail their opinions to state officials, local leaders and the News-Review editor.

Lake Effect Energy has a lot to lose in the ordinance battle. In addition to the hoping to change the ordinance for future use, it has a permit request for a home-scale 20 kilowatt, 120-foot wind turbine in for Bliss Gardens Farm & Community Kitchen on Hill Road near Cross Village.

A $40,500 federal tax credit and a $33,750 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant are also at stake for the Lake Effect Energy project.

“That was supposed to keep us going through the winter,” said Chris Stahl, president of Lake Effect Energy said.

Stahl has seven employees working on a per-project basis.

“If this doesn’t go through, I’ll have to even lay myself off,” he said, explaining his website and reasoning for taking on the county ordinance directly.

Stahl said Lake Effect Energy has no current intention to take legal action.

The website was brought to the attention of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners during their monthly meeting Thursday night. Emmet County chairman Jim Tamlyn said he felt confident in the work of the planning commission.

No final decisions have been made on the proposed Bliss Gardens wind turbine or county wind ordinance. The Zoning Board of Appeals is expected to address the issue at its next meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the Board of Commissioners Room at the Emmet County Building in downtown Petoskey.

Source:  Brandon Hubbard, Petoskey News, www.petoskeynews.com 10 December 2010

This article is the work of the source indicated. 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. As part of its noncommercial educational 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. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon