Twelve wind turbines are being planned for locations in Stanton and Adams Townships, southwest of Houghton. The project, named Scotia Wind, is being developed by Circle Power, a small company based in southern Michigan.
Circle Power is picking up a project that Farm Wind Energy attempted in 2015, but later abandoned. The Scotia Wind turbines are planned for locations that comply with the Adams Township ordinances, whereas Farm Wind Energy was pressing the township to change the ordinance in a way that would allow them to put a turbine on top of Whealkate Bluff, and other locations closer to residences.
“He wasn’t an experienced developer, and he didn’t necessarily understand how people might react,” Jordan Roberts, co-founder of Circle Power, said.
Roberts said about the only thing they took from the previous project was the wind measurement data that they had. He said that Circle Power is trying to be better about engaging with the township, too.
“We were there on a monthly basis,” he said. “Prior to, you know, the coronavirus situation.”
The Adams Township ordinance requires that turbines be set back at least 3,000 feet from the nearest property line, and that sound levels at the nearest property line cannot exceed 55 decibels. The average refrigerator makes about 55 decibels of sound when it is running. The Scotia Wind project is being developed to be on active timberland land, owned by Lake Superior Timberlands, LLC.
This is a screenshot from “The Wind Prospector” a site run by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It shows the area where the turbines will be built is in the light green area, which is labeled as “6.5 to 7 m/s” on the legend. Dark green and blue have speeds reduced at .5 m/s intervals.
Stanton Township does not yet have a wind ordinance, but is working on developing and passing one. Township supervisor John Mattila said it will probably look quite similar to the Adams Township ordinance, as they intend to use it as a template.
Below is a copy of the Adams Township Wind Turbine Power Generation Ordinance, and an application. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines” the ordinance refers to are available here.
Circle Power has not filed for permits with the township yet. Roberts said that they will engage with the permit process once they’re ready.
“We’ve been doing environmental surveys for several years,” Roberts said. “You know, birds, wetlands, our wind studies, are ongoing.”
At the Adams Township meeting on Monday, Christopher Moore, another Circle Power co-founder, shared a map that showed the routes of roads that would need to be constructed or improved to build the turbines. Township officials said it would be shared online, but is not yet available on their website. This is a screen capture from the Zoom meeting.
The turbine’s access road would initially follow the path of the ATC transmission line, before splitting to reach the turbines.
Roberts said he believed there would be “significant” tax generation for the local municipalities and schools, but wasn’t ready to release any numbers. He said they would be supplied to the townships first.
Paperwork filed with the American Transmission Company shows the turbines Scotia Wind is planned to use are Siemens Gamesa 5.0-145 (Type 3) turbines, which have a total height, including blade length, of about 808 feet. The project is intended to generate a maximum of just under 40 megawatts of renewable energy. Agreements for that energy have already been signed by UPPCO.
The introduction of turbines in Houghton County will not impact electric rates for nearby residents. Rates are set through a process through the Michigan Public Service Commission.
“We understand the issue of rates in the area,” Roberts said. “We’re not involved in the rate-making process...”
During the controversy surrounding the now-abandoned Summit Lake Wind Project by RES in L’Anse Township, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council passed a resolution opposing wind energy generation within their ceded territory.
Moore has met with the Tribal Council and other individuals from the KBIC to discuss the impacts and concerns of the project, according to Jeffrey Loman. Loman was involved in protesting the construction of the Summit Lake Wind Farm, but thinks it’s unlikely the turbines in Houghton County will be halted.
On the other hand, Roberts said it will likely be a while before construction can begin.
“We think this is a great location for a wind farm, and we think a bunch of the pieces are falling in place,” Roberts said. “But it’s certainly not a done deal.”