07-03-2025
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.
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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.
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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.
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