Van Buren County has joined several township boards in opposing a proposed Consumers Energy project that would build 20 miles of new power lines north of I-94 between Mattawan and Lawrence.
The high-voltage, above ground transmission line would run across various residential, agricultural and park lands. According to Consumers, they will clear 40 feet of trees on either side of the line, with an additional 40 feet of trees subject to removal pending further review. A new substation near the Lawrence-Crandall Business Park in Lawrence also would be built.
Dozens of residents have expressed concerns to county leaders at its last two meetings. The county’s committee of the whole agreed, unanimously passing a resolution against the proposed project.
“Consumers will unnecessarily condemn public and private lands to implement their upgrade,” the resolution reads. “Van Buren County citizens, by and large, object to Consumers’ placement of the new powerlines because of safety concerns, inconvenience, and reduced property values. … Consumers has rejected less intrusive routes for the powerline, (e.g. adjacent to the I-94 corridor or along the existing line) and opted for route that will burden Van Buren County residents in the short term, but also affect residential home values and trees and vegetation for years to come.
“The County of Van Buren stands with its citizens in their objection to placement of Consumers’ powerlines across residential, agricultural and park lands. The County of Van Buren does not find that a public necessity exists for the taking of residential, agricultural, and park lands for the placement of the Consumers’ new powerlines. Therefore, the County of Van Buren, through its Board of Commissioners, objects to Consumers’ unnecessary placement of their new electric lines across residential, agricultural, and park lands.”
Last week, Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt and Republican Energy, Communications, and Technology Leader Wendzel issued the following statement:
“We join our Van Buren County neighbors in their opposition to the Consumers Energy Crandall Transmission Line Project in its current form. Our offices have received multitudes of concerns from members of the community regarding how the project would affect their property and the surrounding area.
We urge Consumers Energy to seriously consider a less intrusive route for this project and we hope that they will cooperate with the community to find a solution that respects the rights of property owners and those potentially affected by this project.
It is vital to prioritize the concerns of community members and carefully consider the potential impact of any large-scale projects on the surrounding area. We are committed to working with Consumers Energy, their customers, and the community to find a solution that benefits all parties involved while respecting private property rights and the environment.”
Consumers responded to concerns via a document on its website.
“Our team worked diligently to identify the route for this electric line considering all relevant factors, including, among other things, the potential impact to the community, the impact to the Company’s customers, environmental impacts, sound engineering practices, as well as financial considerations to avoid undue costs to the Company’s customers. Through this process, the Company evaluated multiple routes using environmental maps, field visits, and sound engineering design practices to develop the proposed route that includes following our existing infrastructure where possible.”
The company also addressed concerns over the environment.
“From start to finish, you can count on Consumers Energy to do the right thing when it comes to safeguarding the land, water, wildlife and other natural resources we all cherish in the area. For 135 years, we have worked on projects like these around the state of Michigan. We always work closely with local, state, and federal agencies, when applicable, to identify potential concerns and minimize our impact on the environment. “
The company expects forestry work to begin in 2024. To see the FAQ on the project, click here. Other details can be found here.
