Traverse City Record-Eagle

Elmwood Township

June 26, 2008

Wolverine Power trying to bypass statutes

By MELISSA DOMSIC

Greilickville -- Wolverine Power Cooperative is seeking permission from the state to bypass Elmwood Township ordinances and build a contentious electrical substation.

The utility continues its battle with township property owners and some officials to construct a multi-million dollar transmission substation near the corner of Bugai Road and M-72.

An attorney representing Wolverine and its co-op member Cherryland Electric Cooperative sent a letter last week to township officials requesting a public meeting, the first step in gaining authorization from the Michigan Public Service Commission to preempt township approval.

Power lines for Cherryland, Traverse City Light & Power and Consumers Energy would be connected to the station.

State law allows the MPSC to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity, allowing Wolverine to bypass township ordinances.

"We're very serious about this," said Craig Borr, Wolverine's executive vice president. "The need is there. This is a critical facility."

Borr said he plans to file a request for the certificate with the commission after meeting with township officials and residents.

Township Supervisor Derith Smith said she wants the commission involved so technical experts can evaluate the situation and residents can give input to state officials.

"This is the public discussion that should have happened from the very beginning, from the time this was proposed, because it has caused a lot of confusion and hard feelings that aren't necessary," Smith said. "I'm hoping the MPSC will have a larger discussion that will garner more interest regionally."

If the utility files a certificate request, the MPSC will conduct a hearing at its Lansing office, commission spokesman Paul Proudfoot said.

Proudfoot said he doesn't remember ever hearing a case for a transmission substation.

"... (T)hey're really interested in working this out locally," he said. "They'll only come here as a last resort."

Wolverine officials "worked in good faith" with township officials, Borr said.

"We have worked for now more than a year with Elmwood Township and have been successful at several different junctures, both through the township's process, as well as through the courts, and we still don't have resolution," he said.

Residents contend they never got a fair chance to give their opinions on the project before the utility obtained approval under the township's former zoning rules. The township subsequently changed its zoning plans and Wolverine proposed a new site plan last month to mitigate concerns about noise and visual impact on the area, but many residents spoke against it.

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