What Are Your Questions About Wind Energy?

MANISTEE & BENZIE COUNTIES, MI - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - If you have questions about wind energy, a team of Benzie and Manistee County township representatives want to provide objective, fact-based answers through the Understanding Wind Initiative, an effort to provide education and information for residents, communities, businesses and others about wind energy options and their implications.

Questions in any number or form are requested and should be submitted to the facilitator of the project, the Alliance for Economic Success (AES) by Friday, March 25, 2011.

Based upon the questions received, the Michigan Association of Planning will recommend expert firms or individuals who are unbiased and objective that can provide complete, fact-based answers along with information about best practices and the economic, environmental social and other implications associated with wind energy alternatives. The Understanding Wind Energy Leadership Team, consisting of representatives from Joyfield and Blaine Townships in Benzie County and Arcadia, Bear lake, Onekama and Pleasanton Township in Manistee County, will review the credentials and experience of the recommended firms or individuals to further ensure that they are able to respond to questions in an unbiased, objective manner and that they have a high level of expertise.

The questions and answers will be compiled in a report by the selected expert consultants that will be presented in at least two public forums in Manistee and Benzie Counties in April. To encourage the submission of questions, the names of individuals and organizations that submit questions will not be disclosed.

"An important goal of the Understanding Wind Initiative is to offer everyone in our participating townships with an opportunity to learn together about the issues and implications of wind energy options," said Brad Hopwood, a member of the Leadership Team who also chairs the Arcadia Township Planning Commission. "By learning together through an educational process that is objective and gives us the benefit of experts in the field, we will be in a position to make much better long-term decisions about how wind energy fits with our communities, including decisions involving planning and zoning. We hope that everyone will submit as many questions as they'd like in any manner they choose and not limit their questions to any single wind energy option."

Questions by Email, Mail, Phone and Fax…

Wind Energy questions should be sent to the AES by March 25 by:

Email: jami@allianceforeconomicsuccess.com

  • Mail or Hand Delivery: Wind Energy Questions, AES, 1361 South US 31, Manistee, MI 49660
  • (AES is open M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Phone: 231-723-4325
  • Fax: 231-723-3717

Questionnaires and Convenient Collection Boxes…

In addition to submitting questions by email, mail or telefax, there will be Wind Energy Question Forms and collection boxes placed at the following locations by February 25, 2011.

  • Bear Lake Township Hall, Village of Bear Lake
  • Onekama Township Hall, Village of Onekama
  • Pleasanton Township Hall
  • Saddle Up Service Station and Convenience Store, Village of Bear Lake
  • Nugent Ace Hardware, Benzonia - Benzie Shore District Library
  • Max's Gas State and Convenience Store, Bear Lake

Community Forums – Obtaining Questions about Wind Energy…

In addition, the Alliance for Economic Success will host meetings about the Understanding Wind Initiative to gather additional questions. Those meetings will be held as follows:

  • Bear Lake School, Bear Lake
    • Thursday, March 3 Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.
  • Benzie Central High School, Benzonia
    • Thursday, March 10 Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.
  • Pleasant Valley Community Center, Arcadia
    • Saturday, March 19 Time: 1:00– 3:00 p.m.
  • Frankfort-Elbert School District, Frankfort
    • Thursday, March 24 Time: 6:30– 8:30 p.m.

"We want to leave no stone unturned to provide every opportunity we can so that property owners, students, business owners, nonprofit organizations and others can submit their questions about wind energy so that we can provide a shared learning experience of value," said Cyndy Fuller, AES Executive Director. "By partnering in this project with the Michigan Association of Planning, we intend to access the most expert resources available to respond to these questions and concerns to help all interests gain a better understanding of their wind energy options and desired alternatives."