Last week I attended “Windmill School” in St. Ignace. Dr. Mary Ann Heidermann, Regional Land Use Educator at the Michigan State University Extension Office spent a little over two hours covering planning and zoning for wind energy. Her presentation focused on wind facility siting and regulation. Though wind energy will be an important part of Michigan’s push to develop sustainable energy sources many cities no not have clear policies and regulations concerning wind energy. Some local ordinances do not even address wind turbines, making them difficult for companies and landowners to determine the best course of action. Wind energy is a large financial investment and the uncertain policies make it even riskier. The packet given to attendees included a copy of Dr. Heidermann’s presentation, model ordinance, guidelines for siting wind energy systems, Huron County’s ordinance, and landowner guidelines for evaluating wind energy production contracts.
Some interesting facts I learned at the workshop include a few general facts about wind energy. he "Michigan Land Use Guidelines for Siting Wind Energy Systems" addresses many concerns about developing wind farms, including, but not limited to, noise, bird deaths, and shadow flicker. These issues are important to consider when incorporating wind energy into local ordinances. TFor instance, local government is responsible for setting local rules about excessive sound or noise. Since noise is a subjective judgment, some people may enjoy sounds that others do not. There are no directly applicable federal or state laws mandating noise levels, but state and local governments commonly use the EPA's advisory document published in 1974 to guide their decision making. When it comes to bird deaths, more birds are killed by house cats in a year than turbines. MSU Extension's Guidelines reports a 2005 estimated annual bird mortality range between 75 to 100 million deaths from house cats, and only 20 to 30 thousand deaths from wind power developments. Enough said. Shadow flicker is a less publicized concern, but may be as, if not more, disturbing than others. Shadow flicker describes what happens when rotating wind turbine blades come between the viewer and sun, creating a shadow. Some people argue that shadow flicker may cause epileptic seizures. Even though there are no documented health affects associated with shadow flicker, the Michigan Siting Guidelines for Wind Energy Systems suggest utility grid systems submit a shadow flicker analysis when requesting a permit.
Though the presentation targeted city planners, wind energy policies will more than effect local officials. Landowners, companies, government officials, and future generations will all be effected by decisions made today about wind energy. I advise anyone concerned about Michigan's energy future to educate themselves about forthcoming energy policies.
For those interested in attending similar events in the future I recommend contacting the MSU Extension Office before registering, to determine if a workshop will be held close to your residence. The workshop set me back $110 (for two seats) and about five hours of drive time. Though I didn’t leave the workshop with a diploma, I left with a better understanding of the challenges and obstacles to developing wind energy in Michigan.
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