Latest news with #Cordelio
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Residents voice opposition to Lake Odessa wind turbine
ODESSA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Odessa Township Board voted 2-2 to reject the application permit for a Cordelio Energy temporary testing facility Monday night. The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in vehement opposition of the eventual that Cordelio has proposed for the community. Most cited the environmental and noise pollution concerns they associate with wind turbines. Others warned of falling property values, possible reductions in population and the spoiling of their beautiful Ionia county landscape. 'This is going to shut the town down,' one commenter said. Company proposes dozens of wind turbines near Lake Odessa 'This beautiful land is being forfeited so the city can get some more power,' another added. 'The government needs to protect this community,' a third commenter said, referencing the township board. The testing facility is a necessary data-gathering prerequisite to building wind turbines in any community. But Monday's vote was likely mostly symbolic. The testing tower is already built and functioning. The tower was built in November 2024, one of three owned and operated by Cordelio in the area. It was approved by the Ionia County Building Department without a permit from the township, as is required in the township's that was passed in 2019. Cordelio admitted that was an 'oversight' and went to the township this year to get the necessary permitting. The appearance of the vote on the board's agenda attracted the anti-turbine crowd to the meeting. Now that the township has denied the permit, though, Cordelio will likely go to the Michigan Public Service Commission to get the permit instead, which poses more problems for the township. After the negative vote, Supervisor Gary Secor explained that if the Public Service Commission approves the permit now, it will nullify and void the township's wind ordinance, hampering its ability to dictate the wind turbine project when it reaches fruition. Consumers Energy purchases 800 acres of farmland in Oceana County The final curveball, though, is that because of a law passed last year, the state's Public Service Commission has the power to override local ordinances when planning and advancing 'utility level renewable energy projects.' That had Lake Odessa's State Representative Gina Johnsen, a Republican, fired up at Monday night's meeting — calling for the community to continue its fight as the convoluted process continues. 'The state voted that you don't have the authority to make the decision for what the people want,' Johnsen said to the board. 'It's your time to stand up and defend your turf … not with violence like others do … but with intelligence and with organization. … It might be a stall tactic. It might be putting your foot in the door so it doesn't slam shut. But it shows us how important it is to be engaged. You cannot be quiet.' The next steps in the process are uncertain but the community found unified resolve at Monday night's meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company proposes dozens of wind turbines near Lake Odessa
LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (WOOD) — A renewed effort is underway to build dozens of wind turbines around Lake Odessa, an Ionia County community of less than 2,000. The company leading the charge, Toronto-based Cordelio Power, held a community meeting Thursday to try to sell residents on the idea. 'We really, really need energy in this country. This is an opportunity for the landowners to find an additional source of revenue that's going to get them ahead, that is going to keep the family farm within the family farm,' Brad Lila, vice president of development at Cordelio Power, said. Palisades owner touts 'ultra-safe' small modular reactor The Tupper Lake Wind Project is the latest in years of efforts by several companies to harness wind energy in Ionia County. Cordelio Power, which got involved a year ago, is proposing building up to 47 wind turbines. Already, 75 landowners are on board and the company is looking for more. Owners will get paid to lease their property and host a wind turbine. It's a win-win, Cordelio says. 'It's a competitive industry, a very competitive industry,' Lila said. 'This gives them that opportunity to continue for generations.' Not everyone's on board just yet. 'Me and my wife have talked about selling our property if this actually takes place,' Darren Schafer, who lives in Lake Odessa, said. He said his house is in a rural area about a mile from where some turbines might end up. 'My concern is my quality of life,' he said. 'The way I understand it, they're not going be too far from my house. The red flashing lights at night, just takes away the value of your property.' Cordelio Power says its wind turbines have an automated system so they only flash red when an airplane flies overhead. Otherwise, the community won't see them. Consumers Energy breaks ground on new solar farm in Calhoun County The project is still in its early stages. Once the company gets enough landowners on board, it will need to get a project permit from the local government and then come up with design plans. If everything works out, it hopes to start construction in late 2027 or early 2028 and be done by the end of that year. Cordelio Power said the Thursday informational meeting would be the first of many and that its plans could change based on feedback. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
