LANSING, MICH — In her last State of the State address tonight, Gov. Jennifer Granholm again mentioned the investment Michigan should, and already has, made in the expansion and creation of alternative energy development throughout the state; but some advocates think the state’s investigation into the emerging wind sector needs to be cautious and not rushed.
Peppered throughout her speech were references to clean energy and wind turbine development and the jobs associated with the emerging sector.
Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition is a newly formed group committed to stopping the Scandia Wind Aegir Project, in its present form, from building 200 turbine generators in a 100-square mile area of Lake Michigan between Silver Lake State Park and Ludington.
Job creation is a specific issue the coalition has with Scandia’s proposal – or the false promises of jobs in the region. The coalition is concerned that Scandia is using the lure of job creation to tempt a community, like others in Michigan, struggling with high unemployment.
“Although Scandia talks about job creation, they cannot guarantee any of the jobs will stay local,” said Jeff Hoenle, president of the coalition. “They are trying to use that angle as a guarantee for local support, but we aren’t buying it. The types of jobs this project creates are very industry specific – even the manufacturing may not happen in our region, but maybe even in another state.
“There are too many questions yet to be answered before the state, or any local government rushes into making a decision that we can’t undo.”
At a recent Great Lakes Wind Council (GLOW) meeting in Lansing, chairman Skip Pruss called the Scandia proposal a project in “the wrong place, at the wrong time.”
Hoenle pointed out that GLOW has designated 537 square miles in Lake Michigan as desirable for offshore wind energy development, but Scandia has not proposed to build in any of those areas. Scandia also has not chosen to follow the council’s initial recommendation of appropriate setback requirements from the shoreline.
“Even the developers admit that no one has tried to build turbines at the depth they are exploring in Lake Michigan,” Hoenle said. “We are not interested in risking our water and natural environment to be a test site for something that might or might not work. Further studies need to be completed, and a regulatory process in place before anymore work on this proposal takes place.”
In addition, the coalition is questioning the commitment Scandia has to bring jobs to the area. During the Mason and Oceana County public meetings, Scandia was very clear that the method of foundation construction the company wanted to employ to build the turbines was being used specifically to get around the federal Jones Act, which requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed wholly by U.S. citizens.
“If Michigan, and by extension American, job production are primary concerns, why endorse an overseas developer who is disregarding not only GLOW Council recommendations, but looking to circumvent laws designed to protect American jobs?” questioned Hoenle.
The coalition is supporting Rep. Goeff Hansen’s legislation, House Bill 5761, to legally prohibit development of a project until the state has implemented an oversight system.
“Rep. Hansen’s bill needs immediate action by the Legislature so that a process can be established, guaranteeing our environment and rights are being protected,” Hoenle said. “We’re not alone in thinking that this whole project just needs to stop – no more progress should be made until the state has its ducks in a row.”
Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition is made up of local residents and business owners, and represents more than 900 members. For more information, please visit www.protectwithpower.org.
As far as I’m concerned this project should not even be considered in Lake Michigan. I recognise the need for alternative power, but those who would plan these power fields MUST take every consideration the residents of the state the’re thinking to place their fields in…..they must take consideration to the assets each state holds to be their “jewels”. Just as one would not consider putting a windfarm in the redwoods of CA, neither should they even consider putting one along the lakeshore of a state that holds their waters so dear and considers them to be a pristine asset to their state and individual lives. The Great Lakes should be considered as National Parks…..protected, at least along the shorelines. If they want to put them in the middle of the Lake where they can’t be seen from shore that could be considered….or on the land somewhere. Wind turbines aren’t so ugly, but no one wants to go down to the Lake at sunset and try to view that wonderful spectacle through a field of windmills. If they want to put them on land, even having to clear away a few trees in the process (depending where it is) that would be alright…..even interesting.
The foremost problems with the Lake Farm, in my opinion, is asthetics, danger in any type of pollution, oil or otherwise, to the waters, clogging the waterways for the boaters and fishermen, not to mention the danger of birds being killed while trying to navigate through them…..and what about the fog problem and people running into them with boats or not even being permitted into that area at all….what about the people who have homes along the lakeshore.
Another thing that bothers me about this project is that these people who want to erect these windmills aren’t even Americans! If we are going to put wind turbines in Michigan, then we should buy them and have them erected from American companies….preferably using Michigan natives to do the work.
I join you as a local resident who REALLY is against wind turbines along the lovely coastline of Michigan state.
Jane in Hart
Jane-
Mot only do I agree that the Great Lakes should be considered a National Park…the Great Lakes should become a National Park System.
The Great Lakes Basin Compact has the ability (and a statutory mandate) to represent all 8 states on environmental and economic issues.
http://www.cglg.org/projects/water/CompactImplementation.asp
Emily