Meanwhile, several residents in the area have formed a Wind Turbine Analysis Committee. The project came to public attention over the summer and was the subject of a public informational meeting in September. The Maple Rapids project is in Shiawassee County, and county commissioners there put a one-year moratorium on the project in December.Īpex representatives first came to southern Berrien nearly a year ago, approaching farmers and other property owners about locating wind turbines on their land. Jongewaard said the company’s other wind farm project in Michigan is on hold. The state had required that up to 10 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources. He said Apex is looking at what recent changes to the state’s renewable energy portfolio means to the company. In other townships, the company would have to get a variance on things like structure height. Apex is the largest wind farm developer in the country in terms of capacity.Īs for contacts with townships, he said the company has to determine the public’s interest and conduct a feasibility study before approaching townships about approvals or changing ordinances.Īt least one township, Weesaw, has an ordinance prohibiting commercial wind farms. Each turbine would cost $3 million and be 600 feet tall. The project is not dead.”Īpex proposed a $250 million wind turbine farm with 25 to 40 turbines on 13,000 acres in Baroda, Galien, Three Oaks and Weesaw townships. “We have an interest in the project, but it’s in the very early stage of development, and we know people have a lot of questions. “I don’t think there’s anything to read into” the change in personnel, he said.
Lila no longer works for Apex, and Jongewaard said he wasn’t sure of the status of Guillory and Dykstra. Others no longer involved include development director Brad Lila, David Guillory and Ryan Dykstra.
He has taken over from Dan Blondeau, who is with the company in a different capacity. GALIEN – Apex Clean Energy isn’t giving up its wind farm vision for southern Berrien County, despite personnel changes and months without contact with area townships.Īn Apex spokesman said his company is still interested in building a wind farm despite personnel changes and no contact with area townships in months.Īlbert Jongewaard said four company representatives associated with the proposed Galien Oaks wind farm project are no longer involved.
0 kommentar(er)
