New Offshore Wind Legislation in Michigan is Possible

by Bruce Goodman

In March the Great Lakes Wind Council provided written input proposing new legislation to clarify the existing law on use of Michigan’s lakes for offshore wind energy generation. Now, Senator Patricia Birkholz is leading a workgroup of legislators developing a bill to supplement the current law governing use of the bottomlands in the Great Lakes. The workgroup is expected to address specific environmental concerns, location, and decommissioning issues. Birkholz hopes a draft will be ready for legislative consideration sometime this fall, probably after the November elections.  This bill is being considered because many believe Part 325 of the existing Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act is not specific enough in its provisions to adequately address offshore wind issues.  Others believe the existing law is sufficient an only needs modifications, if anything.