There has been a great deal of media coverage surrounding proposals to construct hundreds of wind turbines several miles off the coast of Mason, Oceana, Ottawa and Muskegon Counties. The Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition believes that a number of important facts have been lost in the public discussion — facts that are important to consider before handing over our most precious resource — our lakeshore — to an offshore wind developer.
Michigan does not yet have a regulatory process in place for offshore wind development and needs time to create one before any development begins. The Great Lakes Wind Council, or GLOW, and Michigan legislators are working on this, but it will take time as there are many factors to consider.
Important details, including distance from shore, shoreline rights, community input and developer experience, need to be included in the state's regulatory process. Our state leaders should take due diligence in this process and not hastily move forward. Rushing the process only will be detrimental to Michigan's shoreline and shoreline communities.
Much focus has been placed on Scandia Wind, the developer proposing wind factories off the coasts of Pentwater, Ludington, Grand Haven and Muskegon. Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition is extremely concerned with the project for several reasons, including that there is no other project of its size in existence in fresh water. Also, Scandia Wind lacks the necessary experience. The company was only incorporated in February of this year by CEO Steve Warner, whose previous job was selling insurance.
The company address for Scandia is his suburban Minnesota home. How can a company that has legally been in existence for a few months and apparently has no experience in this field bring an "industry" anywhere?
Most importantly, no studies on the impact offshore wind development will have on our water, economy and community resources have been done. Before development of any kind moves forward, these studies need to be completed and analyzed.
If offshore wind development is going to negatively impact crucial wildlife, resources and industry in Michigan's shoreline communities, it cannot move forward. Tourism, for example, is heavily relied upon in shoreline communities for revenue. In 2008, Mason, Oceana and Manistee counties alone brought in $284 million from overnight travel, according to Travel Michigan.
Current proposals call for permanent structures in Lake Michigan when floating turbine technology is in the final testing stages before large-scale deployment. Floating turbines offer the benefits of true offshore wind without the negative environmental and economic impacts of current proposals.
The state of Maine passed legislation recently focusing development on deep-water floating turbines after intense discussion mirroring what we have seen in Michigan. Why should we sign on to Scandia's 70s-era oil rig technology when there is a much better alternative just over the horizon?
Our shoreline is our most valuable resource and we need to preserve and protect it before irresponsible offshore wind development moves forward and causes permanent damage. For more information on Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition and our position, visit http://protectwithpower.org.
About the author: Jeff Hoenle is president of Lake Michigan P.O.W.E.R. Coalition, on the Web at: www.protectwithpower.org.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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