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.