Calumet Twp. considers wind turbine rules
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG WriterCALUMET TOWNSHIP - The search for alternative non-petroleum-based power sources is happening not only on the national and state level, but also on the local level, including Calumet Township.
Paul Lehto, Calumet Township supervisor, said Wednesday the township board of trustees has been considering the possibility of establishing rules allowing the development of wind power in the township for residences and businesses.
"We are developing two ordinances," Lehto said.
The two ordinances would apply to small wind turbines, which would be used predominantly by residences, Lehto said, and large turbines, which would probably be used for businesses.
Lehto said the board of trustees will discuss and vote on the proposed ordinances at 1 p.m. today at the township hall on Red Jacket Road.
The board conducted a public hearing on Oct. 14, Lehto said, at which setbacks and putting restrictions on noise created by wind turbines were discussed, but the township planning commission started considering wind turbines last autumn.
Lehto said the impetus for considering an ordinance for wind turbines came from some local students who were working on a class project about alternative energy.
Although in the past one of the main oppositions to the use of wind turbines has been the noise they create, Lehto said the newer machines make much less noise, and those which operate on a vertical axis rather than a horizontal axis, are the most quiet.
"They don't make any noise," he said.
Lehto said although other communities have passed ordinances allowing the establishment of wind farms, Lehto said that probably won't happen in Calumet Township because there aren't any large contiguous pieces of property that would make a wind farm feasible.
"They wouldn't come to our area, because they wouldn't want to deal with 20, 30 or 40 property owners," he said.
However, Lehto said the 1,900-acre township-owned Swedetown Trails property might be a good location for businesses to erect individual wind turbines. "There's nobody working on it," he said. "It's just a thought."
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com.
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Chapman
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10-31-08 7:45 PM
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Form a posse and look for those getting energy for free!!! Tax the snot out of them!!! Regulate them to death!! Discourage any attempt to do anything the local gov't doesn't get a piece of. Dont let the home owner do anything that would promote conservation unless there is revenue to be gained. Come on guys.....join forces and hunt down those things that may destroy society as we know it.....like moose doors!!!
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Chapman
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10-31-08 7:40 PM
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Each and every time something with the possibility of improving someones life comes around, local gov't must extend it's intruding nose into it. If there are no plans on the drawing board, why must it be regulated? Is there going to be a rash of homeowners erecting wind turbines in the dark of night? Or, does this raise the value of your property, thereby increasing your local taxes? ENOUGH already!!
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LocalMom
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10-31-08 1:55 PM
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I'm curious. If I put up a wind turbine, as a local resident, and then they enact legislation, would the turbine be grandfathered? Or would I have to remove my $5000+ investment? Are there any current rules at all? I saw a local company selling these at the Houghton County Fair, and I thought it was a great idea. They are almost affordable now. It's only a matter of time until people start really buying them. But the regulation situation gives me pause. Anyone else looking at these?
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