The Maple Valley Township Board in a 4-1 vote on June 13 approved a wind energy ordinance, which will almost certainly go to a voter referendum even as the township supervisor is facing a recall and is also headed to trial for an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Act.
Apex Clean Energy
PUBLIC FORUM: Apex’s lease restricts landowners
Dear Editor,
When I spoke during public comment at the June 13 Maple Valley Township Board meeting, I stated should Apex Clean Energy build their wind turbines, signed landowners won’t even be able to plant a tree on their own property unless Apex approves.
GUEST VIEW: Boards should not follow any recommendations on ordinances from Apex
The brochure from Apex Clean Energy, (the entity trying to bring industrial wind turbines to Montcalm County), makes claims regarding conservation, property values and property rights.
One claim is that the company works in consultation with environmental agencies and uses conservation measures to ensure that wind projects have no significant effects on bird/bat populations. Why, then, must landowners leave the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)?
Winfield Township Board sends wind ordinance back to Planning Commission
Why hurt your wrist scrolling through bottom of the barrel comments and insults plaguing Facebook and Twitter when you can simply attend a local township board meeting?
The Winfield Township Board on Wednesday evening voted to send a wind energy draft ordinance back to the Planning Commission amid an absolutely chaotic meeting.
Maple Valley Township Board tables wind ordinance
The Maple Valley Township Board tabled a proposed wind ordinance Monday, followed by nearly an hour of passionate public comments.
The township’s Planning Commission in April recommended the ordinance to the township board.
‘A lot of dollars’
Upjohn Institute study estimates Apex wind project would be $776 million investment into Montcalm CountyA study done by the Kalamazoo-based W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research estimates a wind turbine project proposed for multiple local townships would be a $776 million investment over its 30-year lifetime, making the project Montcalm County’s single largest taxpayer.
Montcalm County commissioners quiz Economic Alliance director about Greenville participation, wind energy project
Montcalm County commissioners quizzed the new director of the Montcalm Economic Alliance (MEA) about the city of Greenville’s lack of participation with the organization, as well as about the “hot topic” of local wind energy development.
MEA Executive Director Olivia Blomstrom appeared before the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on Monday to provide an update about the MEA, which she was hired to lead last December.
JUST IN: Upjohn Institute study estimates Apex wind project would be $776 million investment into Montcalm County
A study done by Kalamazoo-based W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research estimates a wind turbine project proposed for multiple local townships would be a $776 million investment over its 30-year lifespan, which would make the project Montcalm County’s single largest taxpayer.
‘There has to be some give and take’
Maple Valley Twp. Planning Commission recommends wind ordinance approval amid chaotic meetingA township where owners of nearly 10,000 acres of land are on board with a proposed wind energy project saw its proposed ordinance take a step forward last week.
The Maple Valley Township Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend its wind ordinance to the township board last Thursday. The Montcalm County Planning Commission will review the ordinance and offer feedback before it goes to the township board for a vote.
Room for compromise
Pine Township approves amended wind ordinanceHalfway into Thursday evening’s special joint meeting of the Pine Township Board and the Planning Commission, it appeared as if wind energy ordinance work might continue into the summer.
But by the end of the three and a half-hour meeting — and after nearly a year and a half of work, research and debate — the township board voted unanimously to approve an updated wind ordinance, thanks in part to the focused efforts made by Treasurer Kristen Diehl.
