On April 6 the Rudyard Township Planning Commission met to finalize the amendments to the Large Wind Energy zoning ordinance. I was not surprised that after listening to over a half hour of testimony concerning noise, decommissioning, complaint resolution, and an attorney’s recommendations to improve the ordinance, the commission chose instead to defer to the desires of the wind company. Instead of looking out for the interests of its citizens, the commission chose to recommend to the township board one of the highest allowable turbine noise levels in the world, totally inadequate setbacks, potential liens against property owners for decommissioning costs, and virtually no teeth with which to resolve complaints. Though there are some commissioners who have done and continue to do their homework on this issue, the majority of commissioners refuse to listen to any information that does not originate from the wind company and is simply bent on bringing this project to Rudyard.

I spoke to the commission for about 10 minutes concerning decommissioning and complaint resolution. When I was finished, the chairman asked if any of the commission members wished to ask me any questions. A recently appointed commissioner, who may still be learning the ropes on how to conduct herself as a public servant, questioned me on, of all things, my own business, recent letters to the editor, and whether I had a special use permit to run my business, asking if I was operating my business in a residential zoned area. Of course, none of this has anything to do with the issue of Rudyard Township’s wind ordinance, and seemed simply an attempt to discredit and intimidate me. Afterwards, since I was under the impression that I was in a business/mixed use zone, I simply went to the township office and requested to see the zoning map and confirmed that I am zoned as business/mixed use, which does not require a special use permit.

Unfortunately, this commissioner and several other commissioners appear to be deeply biased and have sent ordinance changes to the township board that in all likelihood will usher in a wind farm that may destroy the quality of life and health for many of our residents These same residents will wake up one morning and wonder what happened to their “small but friendly” Rudyard, a Rudyard that has been fractured by the love of money and political power, a Rudyard with deep divisions between neighbors, families, and friends. Sadly, these people’s only involvement will be living just one fourth of a mile from a turbine. Possibly if these residents educate themselves and take action before the wind turbines are erected, they will be able to prevent these few politicians’ misuse of authority to line their own pockets and to pander to powerful special interests. The famous quote from Edmund Burke is still echoing through the corridors of time and should stir us to action: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

Timothy Presley

Rudyard