Forum on Nov. 30 to review large wind turbines at GR water plant
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 
to del.icio.us
BY KYLE MORONEY
kmoroney@grandhaventribune.com
GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP — Grand Haven Township is seeking public input regarding the possible proposal from the city of Grand Rapids to install two industrial-sized wind energy turbines near its water filtration plant at M-45 and Lakeshore Avenue.
The public forum will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the Township Hall, 13300 168th Ave.
In late September, Haris Alibasic, acting assistant to the Grand Rapids city manager, and representatives from a wind construction firm met with the Township Board with interest in erecting two 300-foot-tall wind turbines on a 79-acre city-owned parcel. The land is adjacent to the city's Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant, 11177 Lakeshore Ave.
If erected, the turbines would be 1,500 feet from any residential structure and produce up to 2 megawatts, according to Township Manager Bill Cargo.
"We're going to have to look at all the topography and also the other aspect of a wind study," Alibasic has said of the township site. "The idea here is to put them all the way in the back, so they're not going to be in the vicinity of any residential properties."
Large industrial wind turbines were not included in the township's recently approved wind energy turbine ordinance, as township officials thought it would be unlikely that turbines of that magnitude and power would be feasible in the township.
Currently, the ordinance does not allow turbines to be taller than 150 feet and produce power of more than 250 kilowatts.
During the September meeting, township officials directed staff to review proposal language that would regulate the large turbines — in terms of shadow flicker, noise and other concerns — while at the same time protect neighboring residents and land.
The township indicates that no decision has been made yet other than to explore what zoning standards would be appropriate to allow large wind turbines in the community, or whether to allow them at all. Any ordinance amendment changes would have to go through the township's ordinance review committee and Planning Commission, and then the Township Board.
"The purpose of the discussion forum is to gather as much information and input as possible to help the Planning Commission and Township Board make an informed decision regarding the development of a large WET ordinance," Grand Haven Township Community Development Director Patrick Waterman said in a press release. "It is for information gathering purposes only."
Five panelists — including legal staff, renewable energy experts and Ottawa County Planning Director Mark Knudsen, who helped draft the county's model wind energy turbine ordinance — will help township officials with providing information as to whether large turbines are appropriate in the township; and, if so, in what locations, Cargo said.
Members of the Township Board and Planning Commission will be a part of the audience and will not make a decision at the forum.
While invitations for the Nov. 30 public forum were sent out to all property owners within a mile of the Grand Rapids water plant, the forum is open to the public. Those unable to attend it may mail their comments and questions to the township prior to the forum.
"The first question is whether or not (wind turbines) are even suitable in the township," Cargo said. "If they determine that large (turbines) are suitable in the township, then the next question is what should be the controls on them."
Grand Rapids has an energy renewable goal of 100 percent by 2020, and met 20 percent of that goal two years ago, according to Alibasic. The city is currently looking into additional renewable energy prospects — which includes geothermal systems, solar panels and other sustainability efforts throughout the city — in addition to the large wind turbines at the Grand Haven Township site.
"This is a critical component on the ease of delivering energy to the plant," Alibasic said. "We're hoping to have a good conversation on Nov. 30 and share our information and data."
Alibasic said the city applied for a $9 million federal Community Renewable Energy Deployment grant that would help fund the large turbines at the township water plant. He said the wind turbines could be erected by 2011.
