A wind power generation project with 88 wind turbines is planned for part of Huron County.
The Huron Daily Tribune of Bad Axe reports NextEra's Pheasant Run Wind Project will be built in Brookfield, Fairhaven, Grant, Oliver, Sebewaing and Winsor townships.
Project Manager Ryan Pumford says construction officials and landowners met last week.
Pumford says crews hope to have an access road completed in six weeks and most of the large construction done by the end of the year. The wind turbines are being built in an area roughly 95 miles north of Detroit.
Project Manager Ryan Pumford said that construction officials and landowners were able to meet each other last week.
“A lot of people had some very good questions, and our team had ... some very good answers for them,” Pumford said. “I think everyone left that meeting satisfied (and) more comfortable with Jeff Smith, director of the Huron County Building and Zoning Office, said he knew at least one landowner who was satisfied.
“I got a phone call today from a property owner in the Pheasant Run property area, one that has typically not been very supportive,” Smith said. “He said he met with the construction team, and he is very happy with the outcome of that meeting. It seems like things are where they should be.”
Pumford said the company hopes to have access road completed in six weeks, and most of the large construction done by the end of the year.
After that would be cleanup and then the commissioning of the wind turbines. “That’s a pretty aggressive plan,” said Chairman Clark Brock.“That’s a lot of work,” added Planner Mary Babcock. “Yes it is,” Pumford acknowledged. “It is very aggressive, but Blattner Energy is absolutely top-notch. I think everyone is going to be happy working with them — (they have been) so far. Tuscola II has been under construction for over a month now. I know those landowners have been happy working with Blattner, and they go fast.”
Next Era’s speed comes after a delayed start — legal issues in Brookfield Township prevented their site plan review from being looked at by the Planning Commission in May.
The site plan review was approved by planners in June, but it was pending on several conditions being met, including more specific bonding language being approved by the Board of Commissioners.
“A lot of people had some very good questions, and our team had ... some very good answers for them,” Pumford said. “I think everyone left that meeting satisfied (and) more comfortable with Jeff Smith, director of the Huron County Building and Zoning Office, said he knew at least one landowner who was satisfied.
“I got a phone call today from a property owner in the Pheasant Run property area, one that has typically not been very supportive,” Smith said. “He said he met with the construction team, and he is very happy with the outcome of that meeting. It seems like things are where they should be.”
Pumford said the company hopes to have access road completed in six weeks, and most of the large construction done by the end of the year.
After that would be cleanup and then the commissioning of the wind turbines. “That’s a pretty aggressive plan,” said Chairman Clark Brock.“That’s a lot of work,” added Planner Mary Babcock. “Yes it is,” Pumford acknowledged. “It is very aggressive, but Blattner Energy is absolutely top-notch. I think everyone is going to be happy working with them — (they have been) so far. Tuscola II has been under construction for over a month now. I know those landowners have been happy working with Blattner, and they go fast.”
Next Era’s speed comes after a delayed start — legal issues in Brookfield Township prevented their site plan review from being looked at by the Planning Commission in May.
The site plan review was approved by planners in June, but it was pending on several conditions being met, including more specific bonding language being approved by the Board of Commissioners.
That language was approved by the board at its July 22 meeting. Even with the delays, NextEra only is a couple weeks off from its original goal of beginning construction in July.