October 27, 2011

The mission of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is to protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands and to advance stewardship, now and for future generations. Our responsibility with regard to such matters as wind energy is to address issues thoroughly and thoughtfully as they may arise on land that we own in fee or on land in which we hold rights such as conservation easements. We hold these lands for the preservation of the extraordinary conservation values that they harbor.

In December, 2010, Conservancy staff and the Board of Directors agreed that wind towers and/or infrastructure would not be allowed on the 3,800 acres known as Arcadia Dunes: the C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, based on the impact to both conservation values and recreational uses.

The Board of Directors also established a Wind Advisory Committee to collect and evaluate information and develop a process to respond to proposals for commercial wind development on the farmland near the Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve where the Conservancy holds conservation and utility easements. The Conservancy reserved conservation easements and certain utility easements in order to preserve the conservation values of the farmland and to evaluate any utility or wind related proposals and determine what impacts to conservation values such proposals may have on those properties.

Based on available data and research as it pertains to wildlife, habitat, and other conservation values, Conservancy staff and the Board of Directors have determined that commercial wind towers and/or infrastructure will not be allowed on any of the farmland that was part of the land purchased from CMS Energy.

Unless and until the Board determines that questions regarding impacts to conservation values have been satisfactorily addressed, we will not approve proposals for wind energy.

Refer questions to:
Jennifer Jay, Director of Communications, jjay@gtrlc.org

Download the complete press release in PDF format here.