(SANILAC COUNTY) – Wednesday afternoon, residents of Speaker Township and other visitors got their first look of placement maps of a proposed wind turbine project that could be bringing wind turbines to southern Sanilac County.
Speaker Township hall hosted the informational meeting where officials from Canadian-based Liberty presented plans for the 50-turbine project, known as The Riverbend Project. Maps showing both townships with potential placement of at least 50 turbines that would generate 300 mega-watts of wind energy were reviewed.
If the Riverbend project is given final approval and Special Land Use Permits issued, the turbines would be just under 700 feet tall and generate six mega-watts each.
The 72-square miles of the two townships have had extensive studies performed to answer numerous questions including whether or not it was a suitable location for a wind turbine farm and where the turbines would be best placed.
More research and surveying continues on the project that was first initiated in July of 2020. Based on maps provided, it appeared Fremont Township would have up to 31 turbines while Speaker Township could have 19.
The company also had four alternate sites plotted, in case other locations are not suitable.
In Fremont Township, according to proposed location maps, there are 18 sites for turbines, including alternate sites, in an area from Sheridan Line to the north, Todd Road to the west, Fischer Road to the south and Cribbins Road to the east.
Another 13 turbines, including alternate sites, could be located in an area bounded by Mortimer Line to the north, Bricker Road to the west, Burns Line to the south and Todd Road to the west.
In Speaker Township, nine potential sites have been identified for turbines in an area bounded by Mowerson Road to the west, Fisher Road to the South, Jordan Road to the east and Galbraith Line to the north.
Another six sites have been plotted on the placement map in Speaker Township in an area of Cork Road to the east, Brockway Road to the west, Galbraith Line to the north and Fisher Road to the south.
Company officials were tight-lipped on overall cost of the Riverbend Project and how many acres were acquired for the massive turbines. While the process is still moving forward in a positive direction, there are still many hurdles to clear, including the permitting process.
It is hoped if plans continue to move forward, construction could begin sometime in 2023 with the operation going on-line either late in 2023 or early 2024.
A similar meeting to the one held at Speaker Township Hall Tuesday will be held on Thursday at the Fremonth Township Hall, beginning at noon. The hall is located near the intersection of Galbraith Line and Kilgore Roads.
