Shiawassee County Officials Question Major Wind Project

CORUNNA, Mich. (AP) - A wind energy project in Michigan's Shiawassee County is hitting some blowback.

County commissioners are talking about a moratorium on the huge turbines until they can fully understand what's being proposed in rural areas, 50 miles northeast of Lansing.

The Argus-Press says Apex Clean Energy wants to develop a wind turbine project in four Shiawassee townships, although the company hasn't applied for permits yet.

County commissioners last week told their lawyer to draft an opinion on a wind energy moratorium. County Community Development Director Pete Preston says the project can't be stopped unless it doesn't follow the county's master plan.

Apex development manager David Guillory says more than 140 property owners have signed up. He says "they were not swindled."

A public meeting is planned for Dec. 7.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)