Wind Energy: County and Local Planning

Great Lakes Regional Wind Energy Institute, 2008

04/18/23

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association In Partnership with Manistee County

About GLREA

• Not-for-Profit incorporated in 1991

• Member driven organization with over 650 members

• Home office in greater Lansing area

• Mission is to increase the mainstream use of renewable energy technologies

• Organizers of the Michigan Energy Fair

Topics Covered

I. Background on County Wind Energy Planning Project

II.Manistee Plan Development

III.Permitting/Siting Issues

Topic Covered (con’t)

IV. Highlights of Manistee County Wind Energy Plan

V. Guidance Manual for Michigan townships and counties

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers Pictures

Information on CWEPP

• GLREA was awarded grant from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

• GLREA partnered with Manistee County for the pilot project

• Grant began at the beginning of January, 2007

• Completed in January 2008

Deliverables of the Project

• Manistee County Wind Energy Plan

• Zoning Language for Local Municipalities

• Guidance document for other Michigan counties to complete wind

plans

Project Accomplishments

• Produced maps of exclusionary areas

• Provided a tool for the public, local elected officials, and business leaders

• Fostered dialogue between townships for wind development

• Identified and addressed barriers to wind energy industry development

Assistance• GLREA partnered with the MSU Land

Policy Institute to help with GIS mapping

• Northwest Council of Regional Governments helped to secure land use maps

Manistee Wind Energy Plan Development• Manistee County stakeholder

meetings

• Lansing stakeholder meetings

• Participation in Manistee County Summit

• Participation in Wind Siting Workshops

Plan Development

• Wind Town Meeting at 2007 Michigan Energy Fair

• Review and Comment from Manistee County Planning Commission

• Review and comment by members of the public

Benefits of Wind Development

• Agricultural/Farmland Preservation

• Brownfield Redevelopment

• Job Creation

• Redeveloped tax base

• Secure Local Energy Supply

Siting Issues

Siting Issues•Setback•Tower Height•Sound•Migratory bird and other avian issues•Visual Impact•Shadow Flicker•Visual Appearance

•Current Land Use Patterns•Soil Erosion and Water Quality•Cultural Sites•Road Access and condition

Most Important Issue in Permitting

• Public Acceptance

• Landowner / Farmer Participation

Barriers Identified in Manistee County• Lack of zoning language in majority

of Manistee County municipalities

• Wind Energy development not addressed in Master Plans

• Lack of public education about wind energy

Barriers Identified (con’d)

• Limited maps relating to wind energy

• Absence of countywide position on wind energy development

Useful Information in Wind Plan• Wind Energy Facility Ordinance

• Short statement in support of wind energy for adoption by county

• Public Outreach and plans for future outreach

• Land use maps

Exclusionary Areas In Manistee County

Provide Mapping

Proposed Actions for Manistee County• Resolution by Manistee County

Board in support of wind energy

• Amend Municipal and county master plans to include pro-wind energy stance

• Municipal and county adoption of wind energy facility ordinance

Proposed Actions (con’d)

• Permit wind energy as a special use in all agricultural and rural zones

• Permit wind energy as a special use in wind overlay zones covering specific commercial and industrial lands– Include brown field areas

Proposed Actions (con’d)

• Host public meetings, summits, etc., concerning wind energy

• Provide avenues for public comment

Guidance Document

Planning in your Community

A. Identify local stakeholders

B. Host multiple stakeholder meetingsA. Develop vision for plan

C. Identify how wind energy complements local character

Key Questions

• What is the current and future character of the community?

• Is the community seeking to conserve open space and agricultural land?

• Is the community seeking to redevelop blighted properties?

• What is the current and future economic climate?

• Where does wind energy fit into this picture?

Planning in your Community

D. Identify siting issues

E. Identify social / institutional barriers

F. Develop mapping for wind energy

G. Allow public comment on plan

H. Present final wind plan

Future Work

Contact

• Great Lakes Renewable

Energy Association

– Jeremy Wittrock, Wind Program Manager– Jeremy.Wittrock@glrea.org– www.glrea.org– 517.646.6269– http://www.glrea.org/education/

wind_energy_planning.html– http://www.landpolicy.msu.edu/wpt/