HURON COUNTY, Mich. — Several communities in Michigan’s Thumb region earlier this month gave a stunning rebuke to wind developers hoping to build more turbines in an area already populated by extensive wind developments.

 

The results of a May 2 election included defeat of the Filion wind overlay district for DTE Energy. The measure failed, 36.6 to 63.4 percent, with 1,110 yes votes to 1,923 no.

Approval of the Sherman/Sigel wind overlay district for NextEra Energy Resources LLC also failed, 36.67 to 63.33 percent, with 1,120 yes to 1,934 no votes.

Approval of Lincoln Township forming its own planning commission passed, 58.39 to 41.61 percent, with 174 voting yes and 124 voting no. The planning commission will give the township more power to restrict wind developments there.

Also, a Sand Beach Township ordinance with restrictions on wind development passed, 83.77 percent to 16.23, with 413 yes and 80 no votes.

NextEra’s Huron Wind Energy Center would have been located in parts of Sand Beach Township and other localities in Huron County and northern Sanilac County. It would have generated up to 150 megawatts of electricity via 65 wind turbines, which would have generated 2.3 MW apiece.

NextEra issued a brief statement in response to the vote. “We saw the results of

the referendum as a setback for the residents of Huron County,” said NextEra spokesman Bryan Garner. “We want to thank those who gave their time, voice and vote to support the referendum.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we will review these results as we consider next steps for future development opportunities.” Regarding DTE Energy’s Filion Wind Park, DTE spokeswoman Cynthia Hecht said the company was disappointed.

“We’re obviously disappointed that we aren’t going to be able to proceed with the project, but we appreciate what the residents of Huron County have already done with wind energy.”

According to Hecht, the company will look for other locations for a possible wind park; it also develops solar wind farms. DTE said the Filion Wind Park was the last step in its plan for wind development in Huron County and would have placed turbines in parts of four townships: Bloomfield, Dwight, Lincoln and Sigel.

Denise Rice, of Lincoln Township, is the secretary of Huron County Wind Resistance, a citizens group.

“All I can say is, the people have spoken. We didn’t persuade them any more than asking them and pleading with them to go to the polls with our big advertising dollars. But, they showed up, and they said, ‘no.’ Victory for the people is what we’re saying,” she told the Huron Daily Tribune May 3.

Kevon Martis, founding director of the anti-wind group Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition – based in Lenawee County – told the National Review May 12 that Huron County has more than 400 turbines. “If wind energy is so great, why didn’t the county voters choose to have more of them?” he asked.

Martis added that NextEra and DTE probably spent more than $500,000 on their efforts to get voters to approve the projects, while anti-wind forces might have spent $3,000-$4,000.