Consumer's Energy Offers a Bribe

[XLFD]

I have stayed away from the ongoing land-based wind turbines debate in Mason County, up to now, because I have been conflicted about it.  I do believe people have the right to put up, or allow to be put up, a wind turbine on their property if they so wish.  As such a structure may influence a variety of factors to their neighbors (sound, flicker, safety, property values, etc.), I believe there should be protections in the zoning policies to make sure these are taken into account.  These should reflect the past and current concerns of these neighbors, and do so in a manner that doesn't cramp the rights of those who would have turbines on their property.

 

The existing zoning policy for wind turbines was constructed a few years back when the imminent placement of these structures were not fully anticipated by the public at large.  The setbacks for property lines were only 1.5 times the height of the structure, which would be about 750 ft. for these 500 ft. high turbines.  A citizen named Wally Carrier made a very valid point at a recent meeting (and in the LDN) that workers who tended turbines of this height were, by company protocol, to wear hard hats at distances over 1000 ft from the turbines.  Some in the 'safe setbacks' crowd wish to make the setbacks over a mile, which would be a definite dealbreaker for such turbines.  Of course, Consumer's enjoys the prospect of the current rules, and are fighting to keep them that way.

 

On Tuesday, May 17, 2011 the Ludington Daily News published news of a "Good Neighbor Fund".  LDN Article 5-17-2011   This is $2 million used "to address possible qualifying issues" with the wind energy park.  "It will be up to community leaders to determine how best to use the fund."  They "hope the fund will help the company be a better neighbor.  Dan Bishop of Consumer's describes the fund as "another positive value-added-benefit to help leaders in the community move the process forward. 

 

Here's a Michigan law:  Bribery of Public Official 

Can we agree that this is nothing but subtle-yet-not-so-subtle bribery of our public officials into making a Consumer's Energy-friendly policy?   Commissioner Erickson sure likes this fund.

 

In the same article, we learn that the Mason County Rural Fire Authority has come out in favor of the wind turbines citing the reason of a "significant increase in Rural Fire District tax receipts." 

Apparently, public officials like more taxpayer money for themselves to use, just like Consumer's, who will have more than half the cost of this 'wind farm' subsidized by the taxpayers.  Who loses? 

[Eye On Ludington]

[Willy]

Nice photos Eye. I was over there a few days ago so I thought I might as well add a few more pictures. It's hard to believe that we have been talked into allowing our country side to be turned into industrial sites. Not only are the people living near by being subjected to these monsters but they are visible for miles. It's funny how they keep calling these humongous turbines a "wind farm". I've never heard nuclear power plants referred to as a "nuclear farm" or a coal power plant as a "fossil fuel farm". Of course we all know they had to put a pleasant name to these huge industrial power plants because it's all part of the propaganda to sell this to gullible people. 

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/photo/a-picture-says-it-all?contex...

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/photo/a-little-seperation-please?c...

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/photo/quaint-farm-scene?context=la...

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/photo/nimby-1?context=latest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robert]

Great photos Willie, thanks. Good job on getting the perspective right.

[Willy]

I see that LDN is running a long term add for so called  " supporters of Lake shore " .  These companies who are trying to ruin the landscape of local counties are using every trick in the book to get their way. They are trying to convince everyone that these monsters are a good thing for the community. They are using our tax dollars in the form of subsidies to shove these things down our throats and using our money to pay for the deceptive advertising. Unless these things are stopped there will be thouands of them installed in Mason county alone. The next thing to be ruined will be Lake Michigan. Believe me it will happen. But on the other hand if you are happy with the 500 ft. tall industrial towers in your back yards that will be supplying electricity to people in Chicago and Detroit to power their cell phone chargers, Wii's and big screen TV's then just sit back and enjoy the show.

 

http://www.neighborsforlakewinds.com/

[XLFD]

I've noticed that they have been running that ad for awhile at the top of their e-edition.  I suppose it might be convincing if you have no critical thought, but...

They continually point to the zoning policies on the county's books, even though these were passed during a time when this sort of project was not presaged (or maybe it was, these weren't passed that long ago, and the existing laws are rather friendly to developers).  They have testimonials on the site by locals, which is fine, but they have not actually had to deal with these things yet. 

I would really like to see more stuff on such a site that goes into actually debunking the other side; because its arguments in that arena are rather lame, I just get more skeptical of these things.