Consumer's Energy and Mason County Government: Collusion and Misinformation

[XLFD]

Thanks to Fran Sinnott, a local citizen of Mason County who has consistently spoke out against the introduction of wind turbines in Riverton and Summit Townships of Mason County.  In the shadow of the Citizen's Alliance for Responsible Renewable Energy first day in court on January 4th, she wrote this piece that reinforces my research into the lack of responsibility the County's Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals has assumed to make sure  of their constituents are safe, healthy, secure, and have a high quality of life.  Not to further their own personal interests.  This also appeared in the LDN, but I also received this copy as well.

 

As the year 2011 draws to a close, CARRE members, many residents of Riverton and Summit townships, and concerned citizens throughout Mason County look to the new year with growing trepidation.

It was only last July when Consumers Energy revealed its plan for their industrial Lake Winds project that, if constructed, will change forever the lives of people in Riverton and Summit townships. Many who signed easements with Consumers seemed to be “on board” with the project — after all, they were being compensated for their cooperation and their silence (they did have to sign a “gag clause”), but now some are feeling threatened by the impacts that they too will suffer. Those of us that did not sell the right to use our properties to Consumers for the insulting sum that was offered (typically $5/acre), found ourselves fighting to protect our rights to health, safety,
and welfare and the peaceful enjoyment of our homes!

It’s fair to ask, “Just how did this happen to us?”

Does anybody wonder just how it is that Consumers Energy was willing to place a multimillion dollar order for 56 476’ industrial wind turbines almost a full year before a public hearing was held for a special land use permit that would allow or deny the project? Their response to this question, which was posed to Darren Owens, Consumers’ senior project manager, in Circuit Court on December 9th was, “We had the zoning.”

You might ask just how did it happen that Consumers Energy “had the zoning.”

In 2003, during development of the original wind turbine ordinance, Ralph Lundberg, who sat on the Mason County Zoning Commission, publicly advocated for wind turbines in Mason County. In 2005, Mr. Lundberg had a hand in degrading the protections found in the wind turbine ordinance through the removal of the clause stating no turbine should be developed in a square mile section having 12 or more homes. In 2009, Mr. Lundberg was featured in the Fall Update of Consumers Energy’s Wind Generation, “a newsletter for Michigan’s wind energy pioneers.”

Consumers Energy states through their newsletter that “Lundberg, who has granted easement rights to his land to Consumers Energy, is eager to see wind turbines spinning above his property” and quotes Mr. Lundberg as saying “we would accept as many turbines as Consumers Energy can squeeze in.” In 2010, the Fall Update of ‘Wind Generation’ states that “the company has worked closely with Mason County officials to establish local zoning ordinances for the project.” In 2008, the Board of Commissioners increased the allowable sound level to 55 decibels, and in 2009, they approved zoning for pooling of eased properties creating flexibility of setbacks.

So Consumers had the zoning, but not an approved permit. Everyone knows a developer is proceeding at his own risk before getting an approved permit. Or were they?

Is there anybody who doesn’t think our Mason County officials (some, not all) were willing to do whatever it took to make this project happen?

On Jan. 28, the headline in the Ludington Daily News announced that the Lake Winds Project would bring $33,000,000 in taxes to our county. Would Consumers have committed millions of dollars to purchase turbines if they didn’t believe that it was a done deal? It seemed clear in July 2010 when Dennis McKee said at the West Michigan Fair that all that Consumers needed to do was meet the 55 decibel sound limit, and again on Jan. 4, when newly appointed planning commissioner Mike Schneider referenced Consumers purchase of the turbines as a reason to not consider our wind turbine zoning amendments. It seemed clear when during the April 12, 2011 board of commissioners meeting, Chairman Squires “informed all those in attendance he plans to have the zoning amendments and special use permit process finished by July 1,” (in order to meet Consumers’ construction schedule). It seemed clear on May 19, 2011 when Commissioner Lange presented a highly technical seven-page wind turbine sound amendment which removed, at Consumers’ request, references to C-weighted decibels — something Consumers’ sound consultant, Peter Guldberg, called a “project killer” — and when Chairman Squires gave the Commissioners all of 5 minutes to review and vote on it, despite objections from Commissioners Boes and Nichols. It seemed clear at the June 28, 2011 public hearing for the special land use when Mason County planner Jay Kilpatrick recommended that the planning commission approve the special land use before even one person in attendance was allowed to comment.

I believe our right to due process as residents of Mason County and as U.S. citizens was ripped away from us long before the special land use review process ever began.
Mr. Lundberg clearly had an “iron in the fire” during his participation all these years on the planning commission, the county commissioners clearly wanted the tax dollars “promised” by wind turbine development, and Consumers schedule drove the special land use process in their determination to get a Section 1603 federal cash grant of $68 million for placing the Lake Winds project into production by the end of 2012.

Meanwhile, our efforts to protect our health, safety and welfare were thwarted by collusion (for example, the withholding of critical gas line concerns from the Board of Commissioners and Planning Commission, and the altering of a sound level vote of the Planning Commission after the meeting was adjourned) and deception (for example, misinformation from Consumers Energy that no turbine would be within 1,000 feet of a gas line).

[snide]

As I have said all along, I don't really care because I live near town. A seven plus mile setback makes me safe. But what about the others....? Why is something allowed that will take down YOUR property value while making your neighbor money....? Hell ,they didn't even call Miss Dig and had NO IDEA that sour gas lines were there! Zoning and County Comm. rubberstamped it through.

 A friend of mine was way ahead of the game on this. AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, he put up a small windmill about six years ago. It took his personal electric bill down about a third and has since more than  paid for itself. You cannot see his windmill from anyone elses house, is only 90 feet tall and over the last 4+ years he gets to sell power back into the grid. So if someone wants a windmill(afterall their property is their right) WHY don't they go about it the same way.??

 What really ticks me off is alot of the about to be windmill land owners are the first ones to blab out nonsense about "that damn Obama is spending too much " or accepting farm subsidies. I guess it's okay if the money is going to you....! screw the neighbors !

[Willy]

I agree snide. It boggles the mind to think of 500 ft. towers all over the county and I'm thinking that it won't be long before these towers will be in the Lake. It never ceases to amaze me how the LDN goes along with Consumers calling this massive industrial project a "wind park". If this  is a  wind park then the nuclear power plants are "atom farms", or the coal power plants should be called "Earth conversion meadows".

[Marty Redman]

“Every politician, every member of the clerical profession, ought to incur the reasonable suspicion of being an interested supporter of false doctrines, who becomes angry at opposition, and endeavors to cast an odium on free inquiry. Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.” - Thomas Cooper, on Chicago and Ludington/Mason County politicians (1759-1839)