03/30/2006

Harnessing wind energy

Township seeks to regulate windmills

BY Christine Finger

cfinger@record-eagle.com

CEDAR — Centerville Township planning commissioners are set to devise a zoning ordinance that would regulate commercial windmills, on the heels of an energy company's idea to site a wind farm in the township.

Noble Environmental Power, a Connecticut-based company that specializes in wind energy, identified about 8,000 acres of land along County Road 645 as suitable for between 40 and 60 turbines.

The company has not submitted formal plans to the township, but the idea spurred questions from about 50 residents who turned out for the planning commission's March 7 meeting. The township's zoning ordinance does not address wind-generated power, and commission members will meet April 4 to begin developing new rules.

Tim Johnson, planning commission chairman, predicted that could take up to six months and would address public concerns about height, noise, property setbacks and environmental impact. He said the planning commission could draft the ordinance, assign the task to a subcommittee, or establish a citizen committee.

"We want to encourage residents to get involved in this process," he said.

Representatives from Noble several weeks ago began meeting with landowners in the targeted area in an effort to get signed easements to place wind turbines on their property. Each 390-foot turbine could generate up to 1.5 megawatts of power.

Julie Harker-Leigh, a Noble spokeswoman, said company representatives are still meeting with landowners and offered to attend meetings to provide information at the township's request.

Johnson said the planning commission has not enacted a moratorium on wind turbines — a step proposed by some residents. He said that if an owner requested a land use permit to place a commercial wind turbine, the planning commission would likely address the request after the new zoning ordinance was complete.

Noble is in the first phase of the Thumb Windpark in Huron County's Bingham Township that will include 32 turbines creating about 48 megawatts of electricity each year to be sold to Consumers Energy.

Harker-Leigh said it is too early for Noble to start negotiating with regional utility providers.