by Jessica Hickey, staff writer
After speaking up at several meetings at the township and county level, the group of residents opposed to the Maple Rapids Wind project has coalesced around a unified theme: they seek a county-wide moratorium on wind energy projects. The project, proposed by Apex Clean Energy, would erect as many as 60 wind turbines in the northwest corner of Shiawassee County. The turbines may be up to 600 feet tall and as close as 1,200 feet from neighboring homes.
The latest in this string of opposition appearances was the County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Wind energy was not on the agenda, but the commission granted ample time for public comment on the topic. Commenter after commenter addressed the commission with their concerns about the turbines and requested that a moratorium be placed on all wind-related decision making until the community had enough time to review the facts and make their voices heard. In fact, earlier that day the County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole had approved a recommendation that their legal counsel draft an opinion and outline of procedure for placing a moratorium on wind energy.
Theresa Bandkau was one of the residents who voiced concerns about the turbines. She said to the commission, “Apex is a business, and they have good salesmen. I hope you would listen to these people here who are in your county and who you’re supposed to represent.” Brad Lila of Apex spoke to the commission as well, rebutting some of the erroneous points made by other commenters and underscoring his message from previous meetings: the Maple Rapids Wind project will deliver safe, renewable energy while bringing economic opportunity to the county in the form of increased tax revenue.
There will be a public forum for questions and answers on the topic of wind turbines on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at D’Mar Banquet Center in Owosso, at 7 p.m. Those wishing to attend may RSVP to (989) 723-5149 or mperry@shiawasseechamber.org.
