By David Fleet
Editor
Atlas Twp.-The township planning commission will recommend adoption of a wind energy ordinance to the board of trustees at the Feb. 22 meeting.
Rick Misek, planning commission chairman, said the ordinance was approved on Jan. 20 at the township planning commission meeting.
‘At the current state of technology, wind energy in Michigan for individuals is just not feasible,? said Misek. ‘However, federal and state tax abatements coupled with a handful of subsidies can overcome that infeasibility’thus some wind energy towers can exist in our community. When they do crop up, we now have a state-of-the-art regulation in place to provide for the public health, safety and welfare.?
Misek said the equipment to power a home could easily top $200,000.
‘Even if that power could be sold back to Consumers (Energy) it’s very costly to produce enough energy to break even. Consider, too, that a problem of continuous power once you disconnect from the power grid’you’ll have to find a way to store the power when the wind is no longer blowing.?
Misek also said that due to the rather flat geography of the township, it’s difficult to find an elevated section of land to raise a tower up enough to harness the neccessary wind power.
‘A concern is the height of the wind turban and the possibility it could fall on a home or power lines. The ordinance addresses the distance from the tip of the blade to the ground. Safety is the key issue in the plan.?