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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula Feb. 8, 2006  Updated Feb. 9, 2006 Text © 2006 Michele Anderson for Keweenaw Now. Photos © 2006 Dana Richter and © 2004 Michele Anderson.

Keweenaw County to hold hearing on wind power contract Feb. 8

EAGLE RIVER -- Keweenaw County will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Courthouse in Eagle River, in order to receive public comment on a proposal to set up a test wind turbine on the county's property at Mt. Horace Greeley (former Air Force base and former site of Keweenaw Academy, near Gratiot Lake). The hearing precedes the regular monthly meeting of the County Board of Commissioners, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Courthouse.

The potential contract with Mackinaw Power, LLC, to study the feasibility of wind energy on Mt. Horace Greeley has raised questions among local township residents, environmental groups and others. In a Jan. 11, 2006, letter to the Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners, Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor Ed Kisiel outlined township concerns about the proposed lease contract and asked for more time for public input.* George Hite, on his Eagle Harbor Web, also provides information about the issue.**

While some Audubon Club members have expressed concerns about the effects of wind turbines on birds and bats, the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) Board recently sent this message to Keweenaw Now: "The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition would like to go on record in support of alternate energy use and production including the placement of wind turbines on Mt Horace Greeley in Keweenaw County ... if the Power Company uses the best available technology in the design of the wind turbines to minimize the effect on area wildlife and bird flight and the company monitors any environmental effects."

Snowy owls like this one have recently been sighted by birders in the Copper Country. Dana Richter, president of Copper Country Audubon Club, photographed this one. While environmental groups are in favor of wind energy, they have expressed concerns about the impact on wildlife that tall towers, large blades, lights and sounds could entail. (Photo © 2006 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

Keweenaw County Commissioner and Vice-Chair Don Keith has indicated his concerns about the proposed contract are similar to those mentioned by Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor Ed Kisiel in his letter.*

"The concept of wind-generated electric power is something I strongly support, but the devil is in the details -- the height of these units, the visual impacts on Keweenaw County," Keith said. "Let's not take a rush to judgment until we understand exactly what we're getting into."

Keith said he believes the proposed wind towers, which could be more than 300 feet tall, could forever change the skyline of Keweenaw County. 

"The strobe lights on top of the towers will be visible from the Greenstone Trail (main hiking trail) on Isle Royale," he added.

Keith said he would like to have an opportunity to meet with a representative of Mackinaw Power, LLC, to discuss several concerns, such as the unspecified number of towers that might be built, the easement across private property located between Mt. Horace Greeley and its water supply, road issues and maintenance issues not specified in the contract.

Both Keith and Kisiel have noted that the contract allows Mackinaw Power to terminate the lease on written notice, but lacks equal provision for Keweenaw County to terminate the lease.

Also, as Kisiel notes in his letter, "There is no explicit performance bond or other guarantee required for project completion or removal and site restoration if Mackinaw Power, LLC, or its assignees go bankrupt. Keweenaw County could end up bearing any cost."

Keith noted, "There are so many issues that are yet ambiguous that any elected official with common sense would hesitate until they are resolved."

Keweenaw County Commissioner and Chair Frank Stubenrauch, however, said he feels it's a good contract, compared to others.

"I've read their objections, and I see no justification for them. I think the County is protected, and likewise the developer is protected," Stubenrauch said. "I think there are a lot of red herrings in the objections."

While the period of the feasibility study only provides a total of $1,000 to the County for the first three years of the study and $6.25 per leased acre for the next three years, Stubenrauch pointed out that the contract also provides for a $3,000 annual payment to the County for each wind turbine eventually to be located on the leased premises and in commercial operation, or three percent of gross profits, whichever is greater.

These wind turbines blend into a landscape of vineyards in southwestern France. They are an example of a growing use of commercial wind power in France. See the report, "Wind Power Development in France in 2004." (May 2004 Keweenaw Now file photo © 2004 Michele Anderson)

Last year Michigan Tech students in Dr. Hugh S. Gorman's Environmental Decision Making course did a study, took a survey and held a public meeting on Wind Energy potential in the Western Upper Peninsula. According to the Web site created by his students, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, working with the Michigan Wind Working Group, published the report, Michigan Wind Resources (2004), which indicates areas with good wind power potential in the western Upper Peninsula. See the April 12, 2005, Keweenaw Now article on the students' work.

The students noted at that time that there were currently no commercial wind farms in the Western U.P. The closest wind farm, located in Mackinaw City, near the Mackinac Bridge, consists of two .8 Megawatt turbines and is operated by Bay Windpower, LLC.***

To learn more about wind power visit the Web site of MTU's Environmental Decision Making class, "Wind Power in the Western Upper Peninsula." 

Editor's Notes: * Read Eagle Harbor Township Supervisor Ed Kisiel's letter to Keweenaw County Commissioners on the Eagle Harbor Township Web site. The township's Web site also offers extensive information on wind energy, including its environmental impacts.

** Read George Hite's article on potential wind energy in the Keweenaw on his his Eagle Harbor Web.

*** Read about the Mackinaw City wind turbines and see photos of them on the Mackinaw City Web site.

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