The County Press

Wind energy focus of Tuesday meeting


NORTH BRANCH — Lapeer County Citizens WindWatch, a group of northern Lapeer County residents concerned about the possible effects of a proposed wind turbine project in their communities will hold a Wind Energy Policy Forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) at the North Branch Wesleyan Church.

The meeting will feature Kevon Martis of Blissfield, who is a senior policy fellow at the Energy and Environment Legal Institute in Washington, DC.

Michelle Peel, who is organizing the event, said other speakers will include township officials and residents from Michigan’s Thumb region, whose townships host wind turbines and/ or have developed wind energy zoning for industrial wind energy projects.

Peel said Martis is also the founding director of the Interstate Informed Citizen’s Coalition (IICC). Inc. Peel said the IICC is a non-profit group that seeks to protect utility ratepayers from economic harm and rural landowners from zoning abuse.

She added Martis lectures on equitable wind energy zoning across the Midwest and regularly testifies on the economics of renewable energy in both the Michigan and Ohio State Legislative houses. Martis, she said, receives no pay for his advocacy and volunteers his time for both positions.

Martis’ detractors claim the Energy and Environment Legal Institute is a climate change denier lobbyist group funded in part by the coal industry.

Northern Lapeer County residents, said Peel, have expressed concern of knowing what it is actually like to live amongst wind turbines, along with the far-reaching effects of such development.

She said the town hallstyle meeting will offer opportunity for area residents to ask questions of all speakers regarding wind energy development.

Phil Foley