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Preserve the Dunes Newsletter                                                                June 23, 2010

Greetings!
   Here are three important news items that will interest you.
In This Issue
Wind Farms
Joint Action
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PTD needs your financial support. We are filing a friend of the court brief with the Michigan Supreme Court - described in this newsletter. We are approaching the time for a renewal of the sand dune mining permit at the Nadeau Site. This may well  require significant expenses on our part.

Donations can be sent to PTD, P.O. Box 164, Riverside, MI 49084 or made with credit card or PayPal by selecting the Donate button below.

 

Remember we are a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Bill to Regulate Wind Farms in Michigan
Michigan Wind Council proposes offshore wind farm rules

A bipartisan group of state legislators hopes to adopt a bill regulating offshore wind farms in Michigan before the end of the year. The bill is based on the recommendations of the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council and its final report, which suggests that southern Lake Michigan near Berrien County is one of five priority wind source areas.

The bill proposes local control for projects within six miles of shore and would eliminate any wind farms closer than three miles. Click here to read the bill.

For a summary of provisions see the Muskegon Chronical article....

For a another summary of the law see the West Michigan Environmental Action Councils blog.

The November 2008 issue of SOS Dunes News discussed wind turbines on Lake Michigan.

Environmental Groups File Amicus Brief
Groups Join to Protect Public Lands

Preserve the Dunes has joined with Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance, Defense of Place, West Michigan Environmental Action Council and Great Lakes Environmental Law Center in filing an amicus curiae brief with the Michigan Supreme Court in support of efforts to overturn the Michigan appellate court's ruling that allowed the use of Jean Klock Park land for the Harbor Shores development project.

Many environmentally significant sites are protected by public ownership, as well as by deeded conservation easements. If such protections can be capriciously eliminated, significant harm of these sites can ensue.

The brief argues that a 105-year lease with near total control of the land by the developers is for all practical purposes a transfer of the property to private ownership for private use, which was prohibited by the deed.

We are aware that some citizens support the Harbor Shores project, some may be supporters of PTD. Our primary concern is the possible precedents that this case may set for easy conversion of publicly owned land to private development.


"These dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona . . .
once lost, the loss would be irrevocable." Carl Sandburg

Sincerely,
Preserve the Dunes