Offshore Wind Turbine Farm in Lake Michigan Unwelcomed
West Michigan Residents Give Thumbs Down
West Michigan residences do not want an offshore wind turbine farm in Lake Michigan. The proposed turbine wind farm along the coast of Lake Michigan stemming from Muskegon, Michigan to Ludington, Michigan has citizens very concerned. The proposal from Scandia Wind Offshore, LLC to build 100 to 200 wind turbines has spawned some serious reactions from West Michigan residence. Many towns along the proposed section of Lake Michigan are mainly tourist towns. Who would want to visit a shoreline where all you saw on the horizon were wind turbines?
Having been a West Michigan resident for almost sixty years, an offshore wind turbine farm in Lake Michigan offends me. Lake Michigan and its 400 miles of coastline is what keep me here. Michigan is in dire economic straits, and I agree we need to turn things around here, but selling out on Michigan's most values asset is definitely not the way to go about it. I also think wind farms are a great way to go. I just do not think sacrificing the shoreline of Lake Michigan is the way to go.
Anyone visiting or living along the lake shore here knows how much wind there is here. Chicago is called the "Windy City," but the coastline here is always windy. I see no reason why developing wind farms inland a mile or two is going to hurt.
So much is invested in Michigan to save the shoreline, protect Lake Michigan, keeping the invasive carp out of our waters and to keep the quality of Michigan's natural resources protected, why all of the sudden would our state do a 180% turn? The Scandia Wind Offshore, LLC is talking about putting these wind turbines in some that stretch 450 feet as close as two miles off from the shoreline in Pentwater. Even at twelve miles off shore you would be able to spot these giant wind turbines.
How is the offshore wind turbine farm in Lake Michigan going to affect the ecology of our ecosystem in the lake? What impact are these going to have on our fishing and boating industry as well as tourism? Michigan's boating, fishing and tourism is a 7 billion dollar industry that we need to keep intact. Michigan cannot afford to tamper with an already volatile industry. This is supposedly why we are fighting to keep the Asian Carp out of our waters, to protect our water and the industry that provides Michigan with a nice income.
What is going to happen to these turbines when winter hits and the ice flow shifts? Lake Michigan can freeze anywhere between 10 miles to 30 miles of the West Michigan Shoreline. How is the ice going to affect the turbines?
We all in Michigan are well aware how badly in need of jobs we are. But an offshore wind turbine farm in Lake Michigan is in no way a guarantee of future jobs or of any wage incentive for its citizens. Bring those wind turbine farms on land and I am sure people will be more receptive.
Source: By Dave Alexander | Muskegon Chronicle, http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/01/residents_pack_shelby_meeting.html
Published by Denise Nuttall
Denise Nuttall has been an active freelance writer and online business entrepreneur since 2006. Denise has also been very active in citizen journalism for well over a year and owns her very own hyper-local b... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentThe turbines would be at least 18 miles from shore. At this distance they would not be visible from shore, you would have to travel quite a long distance out onto the water in a boat to even be able to see them.
Do you want offshore wind power in the Great Lakes? Join the debate: http://www.beyondthelightswitch.com/blog
This would surely mess up the sunset photos!
Dont be fooled in thinking wind energy is clean. Coal burning plants have to stay burning constantly to supply power because guess what, the wind doesnt blow constantly. Do not ruin the town of Pentwater for such a scam....
I agree with the both of you! No Offshore Wind Turbine Farm or oil rigs.
We should allow offshore drilling rigs as well, as long as we are desecrating the lake.
I am 100% against this. Not only would it be a huge eye sore in the middle of one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, it would negatively impact the fishing and tourism business that the surrounding communities rely on for their livelihood.