Two energy companies are looking for new locations for wind farms after proposals to build new wind turbines in Huron County were overwhelmingly shot down.
Huron county residents voted against the proposals, one from DTE Energy and one from NextEra Energy, by a nearly two-to-one margin.
The new turbines were a part of both company’s work to meet Michigan’s renewable energy standard of 15 percent by 2021.
Denise Rice is a member of Huron County Wind Resistance, which opposed the measures. She said the group knocked on doors to ask residents’ opinions on the turbine proposals.
“And we realized that a good number, a majority by far, were opposed to having more turbines put in the area.”
David Harwood is the director of renewable energy at DTE. He said he understands where people are coming from.
“They had made a major contribution to clean energy in Michigan. There are a lot of turbines and wind parks already built and operating up in Huron County. I think most of them felt like they had done enough and didn’t want to do anymore.”
Officials with NextEra energy said in a written statement, with the vote against new turbines, residents of Huron County - quote - “experienced an economic setback”.