SHERWOOD, MI (WTVB) – The Sherwood Township Board voted 3-0 Thursday night in favor of an ordinance which was being backed by a local citizens group that is against to the siting of wind turbines in northwest Branch County.
The Sherwood Township Planning Commission had recommended the Township Board adopt an amendment to the Township Zoning Ordinance which would require a Special Use Permit for wind energy conversion systems.
It would also establish what some regard as stringent regulations and standards.
DTE Energy has been looking at putting in wind turbines in five northwest Branch County townships in recent years. But their efforts have been met with strong resistance from the group Concerned Citizens of Branch County who have packed various board meetings to express their displeasure with DTE Energy’s tactics concerning the proposed wind turbines.
Concerned Citizens posted on their Facebook page that the ordinance establishes the maximum height of an industrial turbine at 330 feet.
It also requires a setback from a non-participating parcel be 500 percent of the height of the tower and the required setback from a body of water is half a mile.
The required setback from the Village of Sherwood is one mile and there would be a two mile setback from environmentally sensitive areas.
It also sets limits on noise levels. The group concedes it’s not a perfect ordinance but they say it protects the health, safety and welfare of nonparticipating residents.
