Quotations taken from material given to Board members in October:

“As the threats of global warming loom ever larger, alternative energy sources like wind power are essential.  Many new wind power projects will need to be constructed across the county as part of any serious nationwide effort to address global warming.”

“Audubon supports the expansion of properly sited wind power as a solution to global warming and supports federal legislation such as the Production Tax Credit and a Renewable Electricity Standard which would further encourage this expansion and help to reduce pollution from fossil fuels.”

“A significant expansion of properly sited wind power is necessary to address the severe threat of global warming, but much work needs to be done to ensure the expansion of the wind industry occurs without serious consequences for birds, wildlife and their habitat.”

..ABC has been an active participant in national symposia on wind power, birds and wildlife for the past ten years and believes that with proper siting, operation and monitoring, wind energy can provide clean, renewable energy for America ’s future with minimal impacts to birds and bats.”

“Wind generated electrical energy is renewable, produces no emissions and is considered to be generally environmentally-friendly technology.”

“…it is important to stress that wind power facilities, if properly sited, constructed and monitored, can and should be a part of the answer to the global climate change crisis.”

These are comments I extracted from this pile of “negative” information that the Board members were given last month. 

As elected officials, it is our job to protect the health, safety and welfare of our community as a whole.  With any type of development, it is up to us to thoroughly educate ourselves on the cost-benefits of such development in our community and to ensure that the benefits will outweigh the costs. 

I have heard comments that Lake Township needs to take a lead in the environmental movement.   We took the lead several years ago. 

• In 2004 Lake Township began a recycling program for its residents, the only township in Huron County to offer recycling.  We have a team of approximately 20 committed volunteers and a steadily increasing number of recyclers.  We have helped to keep over 25,000  pounds of trash out of our land fill every year and increasing annually.

• Lake Township has taken an active interest in water quality concerns over the past several years.  In 2003 we were responsible for Huron County receiving a 49,000 DEQ grant matched by 49,000 from USGS to conduct a study of selected pesticides, chemicals and bacteria in the Pinnebog and Pigeon Rivers.

• In 2005 Lake Township initiated the Pinnebog River Watershed Management Project subsequently administered by the Huron Conservation District funded by a 140,000 DEQ grant.

• In 2005 the township created an ad hoc sewer committee headed by Trustee Rose Ann Remer to review and analyze the need for septic system maintenance requirements in order to protect water quality.

• In 2006  we received  65 % of the cost in US Rural Development funding to conduct a preliminary sewer feasibility study to determine whether sewers would be cost-beneficial to water quality concerns;

• And, in 2005, at the request of CAFPA and in conjunction with Caseville Township ,  we adopted an ordinance prohibiting the burning of rubbish in our township.  

Can we do more?  We probably can.  We have over 1300 homes in our township. 

·     If every home replaced one 75W incandescent light bulb with a 25W Compact Fluorescent

    Light bulb, which provides the same light, it would reduce carbon emissions by 130,000

    pounds ,  and replacing with a 10 Watt LED light bulb, would reduce carbon emissions by

    over 11,700,000 pounds.

• If more than 4% of our township’s permanent residents would recycle, we would reduce the amount of waste in our landfill and reduce CO₂ emissions.  A two person household on average produces 2,020 pounds in CO₂ emissions from their household waste.

• If those people who still burn their household trash would stop, it would further reduce not only our carbon emissions but other toxic emissions, as well. 

Every individual as well as every municipality has the responsibility and power to do their share in taking care of our environment.  I think Lake Township has taken a very active role and shown their commitment to the goals of our master plan adopted by this board in 1999, one of the goals being to preserve and protect our natural resources.  Those natural resources include not only our shoreline, woods and wetlands, but also the farm lands, the wildlife, the views, the water, and the air.

The other comments I’ve heard mentioned in meetings is tax revenue.  In 2007 Public Acts 37, 38 & 39 were passed by our legislators in Lansing .  Act 37 & 38 will exempt industrial personal property from the 18 mills of local school taxes and the 6 mil state education tax.  Act 39 includes industrial personal property as eligible for  a 50% tax abatement. There is also the Michigan Next Energy Authority which was created to promote the development of alternative energy technologies and to provide tax incentives for business activities and property related to the manufacturing of those technologies.  Personal property that is certified by this authority will be exempt from taxation until 2013.   Wind energy facilities are new to Michigan and the STC is currently working on how they will be taxed.  I believe it is presumptuous to count potential revenue this early in the development of these facilities.

We are a geographically small, unique coastal/agricultural area which necessitates even more responsible planning.   It is much easier to plan appropriately rather than to rehabilitate after the fact.   The Lake Township Board, Lake Township Planning Commission and Lake Township employees are proactive and work very hard to protect our natural resources and maintain the rural character of our community that is so important to our residents today and into the future. 

Valerie McCallum

Lake Township Clerk