Thursday, December 1, 2022
The Mining Journal 3A
Region
Steve Walton
of the Han-
cock Planning
Commission
discusses a draft
ordinance for
solar and wind
energy systems
during the
commission’s
meeting Monday.
(Houghton Daily
Mining Gazette
photo)
Smart
improvement:
Plug into
energy-efficient
grants locally
By Houghton Daily
Mining Gazette staff
plications by Christmas.
Up to $28.5 million is be-
ing disbursed statewide,
including up to $10 mil-
lion in the first funding
round. WUPPDR will also
apply for the second round
of funding, which will be
announced in spring 2023.
“We really want to
be able to get additional
funds, so we want people
to apply as soon as possi-
ble,” McKenzie said.
HOUGHTON — Area
residents will be able to
make their homes more
energy efficient through
a new series of federal
grants.
Western Upper Penin-
sula Planning & Devel-
opment Region received
$500,000 through a grant
from the Michigan State
Housing
Development
Authority for energy-ef-
ficient home repairs and
programs. The funds are
coming through the Mich-
igan Housing Opportu-
nities Promoting Energy
Efficiency Program (MI-
HOPE), which uses funds
from the American Rescue
Plan Act.
Lisa McKenzie, plan-
ner with WUPPDR, said
WUPPDR regularly gets
calls on repairs to assist
residents throughout the
six-county area.
“A large percentage of
our homes are really old,”
she said. “Then with the
coronavirus and the result-
ing economic hardship,
people have found it more
difficult to repair their
homes.”
The funds are avail-
able for owner-occupied
single-family homes in
Baraga, Houghton, Ke-
weenaw and Iron counties.
The other two counties
in WUPPDR’s coverage
area, Gogebic and Onto-
nagon, received another
$300,000 through Goge-
bic-Ontonagon Communi-
ty Action Agency.
“I think that’s excep-
tional,” McKenzie said.
“It says the need is there,
MSHDA recognizes that,
and has really awarded
the Western U.P. a nice
amount of funding for
this.”
Grants of up to $25,000
are available to own-
er-occupied single fami-
ly homes; duplexes also
qualify as long as the own-
er lives in a unit. They can
assist with roof repair or
replacement, windows, in-
sulation, heating systems
and water heaters.
People can apply online
or see more details about
eligibility at michigan.gov/
mshda/neighborhoods/
mi-housing-opportuni-
ties-promoting-energy-ef-
ficiency-program-mi-hope
or wuppdr.org/housing.
The application process
isn’t difficult, but people
will need to upload sever-
al documents, McKenzie
said. Those include utility
bills for electric and gas,
and also their wage state-
ment from their employ-
er. They will also need a
document to show they
own their own property,
and a tax assessment or tax
bill, which documents that
their taxes are paid and up
to date.
Applicants should also
upload a copy of their pho-
to ID.
Because the grants come
through ARPA, people
will also be asked how
they were affected by
COVID.
“MSHDA believes, as
we do, that everyone has
been affected by COVID,
with the increase in utili-
ty bills and housing costs,
and that is a hardship,”
McKenzie said. “That’s
why these funds are avail-
able.”
Applications are open
to people with income up
to 300% of the poverty
guidelines. That provides
funding for a category of
households that generally
do not receive assistance
of this kind, McKenzie
said.
“This reaches more mid-
dle-income people that are
just having a hard time
making some of these re-
pairs while maintaining
their home and paying
their normal housing ex-
penses,” she said. “We’re
hoping these energy effi-
ciency improvements will
allow them to stay more
independent and lower
their energy costs and have
more funding for other
things they need.”
People who need addi-
tional help with the appli-
cation can email McKen-
zie at info@wuppdr.org or
They can also call WUP-
PDR at 906-482-7205
and set up an appoint-
ment.
Sparkling
new ideas
Public hearing for wind, solar
ordinance set in Hancock
By Houghton Daily
Mining Gazette staff
HANCOCK
cock’s draft ordinance for
solar and wind energy in-
stallations will get a public
hearing in January.
The Planning Commis-
sion voted to schedule the
hearing after a discussion
on the new ordinance Mon-
day night.
The ordinance is mod-
eled on one used in Mon-
trose, Michigan. It would
allow for accessory solar
or wind energy systems —
small units primarily pro-
viding power to be used on-
site — in all districts.
Industrial use, where the
generated power would
be sold to a utility or other
customers, would only be
allowed in the I-1 industrial
district for solar, and not al-
lowed at all for wind.
Projects would require a
complete site plan and other
necessary documents and
drawings. They would also
need approval for a solar
and wind zoning permit ap-
plication.
Wind systems in res-
idential areas would be
bladeless or vertical axis
turbines. In the industrial
district, blades must have
clearance of at least 20 feet
above the ground and any
outdoor surfaces such as
balconies or roof gardens
that may be used by people.
Except in industrial dis-
tricts, only one turbine would
be allowed per property.
Ground-mounted solar
panels would have to be in
the rear or side yards. On
rooftops, they would be set
back from the roof’s edge
at least a distance equal to
its height. All of the system
must be no higher than 10
inches above the rooftop.
er,” he said. “We need
alternative power, so we
shouldn’t put in extra things
that would discourage the
development and use of it.
You’ve got to do it. Sooner
or later it’s going to have
to happen, and it should be
done with some forethought
understanding the princi-
ples.”
Walton said he would
consult with the city fire
chief to determine whether
the NFPA rule should be in-
cluded. He said many of the
people who have weighed
in have cited problems with
alternative power, but not
been able to provide details.
“I’ve often wanted to say
to people, ‘Are you trying
to get this through with cau-
tion, or do you want to stop
it,’” he said.
Roblee said he thought
most solar power installa-
tions in the area would not
come in the form of large
solar farms. Instead, most
would come from stand-
alone systems, which are
net metering, due to the re-
strictions in Michigan.
“That’s the stuff that
is really realistic for this
area,” he said.
“You could buy a solar
panel nowadays for $100
… you could buy the same
solar panel 10 years ago for
$800,” he said.
such as Hancock Central
High School or UP Health –
Portage. She also suggested
minimizing the use of qual-
itative requirements, such
as a design requirement that
the systems “shall, to the
extent reasonably possible,
use materials, colors, tex-
tures, screening and land-
scaping that will blend the
facility into the natural set-
ting and environment.”
Industrial-scale
solar
—
Han-
systems are also required
to have a decommissioning
plan in place when they are
built.
Planning
Commission
member Steve Walton,
who prepared the ordinance
along with Susan Burack,
said he had gotten corre-
spondence asking for clar-
ification on the maximum
decibel level, which is not
specified, and vibrational
level, which is required to
not be “humanly percepti-
ble” beyond the property
line.
“From my research, that’s
something that can be some-
what weaponized a bit, if
someone has a vendetta
against energy,” she said.
Juxta Sprague said the
ordinance would prohib-
it the energy upgrades he
and his spouse had planned,
including a ground array
in front of their house and
wind turbines on the roof.
He said the draft gave the
impression the city consid-
ers the systems “an ontolog-
ical eyesore, which must be
hidden at all costs.”
“We can have solar aw-
nings on the front of our
businesses, compact tur-
bines on the tops of our
homes, a solar park that
mixes plants and panels to
make a thriving green space
for our citizens,” he said.
“This is the kind of commu-
nity we need to adapt to the
future of our climate and I
want to be able to live in it
and embrace people with
it.”
Other
municipalities
have imposed limits rang-
ing from 35 to 50 deci-
bels, Walton said. After
discussion about turbines
becoming louder during
high-wind events, Planning
Commission Chair Kurt
Rickard suggested a stan-
dard limiting the system’s
noise in relation to the am-
bient level — also likely
higher during a storm.
Walton also mentioned a
letter from attorney Kevin
Mackey, who had drafted
Adams Township’s recent-
ly adopted wind ordinance,
created after the announce-
ment of Circle Power’s
Scotia Wind project. Mack-
ey had told him commercial
power companies do not
need to abide by Nation-
al Fire Protection Agency
rules, including one having
to do with lithium ion bat-
tery fires.
WUPPDR starts with
whole-house energy
a
audit, checking for lead-
based insulation and oth-
er issues. Even if an issue
won’t be covered through
MI-HOPE, learning about
it gives the homeowner an
idea about what areas to
address, McKenzie said.
“I think it’s a drop in the
bucket as far as the issue
we have out there, but it’s
a start, and we’re really ex-
cited about the program,”
she said.
Projects are anticipated
to be completed by Sept.
30, 2026. All funds will
need to be allocated by
2024, though McKenzie
anticipates it won’t take
that long.
Danielle Ahrens, who
said she and her husband
are planning to install roof-
top solar panels, said the
10-inch restriction might
not be feasible for flat roofs,
A copy of the draft ordi-
nance is available at cityof-
hancock.com/news/1042.
pdf.
Resident Stephen Roblee
questioned the need to add
language regarding batter-
ies. He said while lithium
batteries may overheat, they
are unlikely to explode.
Local contractors inter-
ested in helping with the
energy efficiency work
should also call or email
Department of Treasury
Bureau of Tax and Economic Policy
Administrative Rules for Sales and Use Tax Rules
Rule Set 2022-9 TY
The hope is to have a
first lottery round for ap-
“Some people just don’t
want any alternative pow-
WUPPDR,
said.
McKenzie
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Monday, December 12, 2022
09:00 AM
Volume 136, No. 277
Michigan Department of Treasury, Austin Building, State Treasurer’s
Board Room
TO SUBSCRIBE CALL: 906/228-2500
THE MINING
430 W. Allegan St., Lansing, MI 48922
The Department of Treasury will hold a public hearing to receive public
comments on proposed changes to the Sales and Use Tax Rules rule set.
The purpose of the rules is to update and modernize the sales and use
tax rules to make them consistent with current law.
By the authority conferred on the Department of Treasury by MCL
205.59(2) and MCL 205.100(2).
The proposed rules will take effect immediately after filing with the
Secretary of State. The proposed rules are published on the State of
issue of the Michigan Register. Copies of these proposed rules may also
be obtained by mail or electronic mail at the following email address:
J
ourna
l
For delivery errors or to subscribe to
ALLACCESS
The Mining Journal, call our
228-2500
Serving the Lake Superior Region since 1846
Circulation Department at 906/228-2500 between
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Ann Troutman, Publisher / Advertising Director
IN STATE MAIL
(atroutman@miningjournal.net)................................................Ext. 299
TO ADVERTISE, CALL 228-2500
52 Weeks
$267.80
26 Weeks
$136.50
13 Weeks
$68.25
1 Month
$22.75
Jerry Newhouse, Circulation Manager
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
(jnewhouse@miningjournal.net)................................................Ext. 204
Easy Pay – $22.75 per month
General.....................................................228-2500
Lifestyles.....................................................Ext. 245
Church.........................................................Ext. 238
Sports..........................................................Ext. 252
News...........................................................Ext. 270
Photos.........................................................Ext. 243
Features/Business......................................Ext. 245
Obituaries....................................................Ext. 210
Bud Sargent, Managing Editor (bsargent@miningjournal.net)Ext. 244
Justin Marietti, News Editor (jmarietti@miningjournal.net)....Ext. 245
Lisa Bowers, City Editor (lbowers@miningjournal.net)...........Ext. 270
David Bond, Graphics Manager (dbond@miningjournal.net).Ext. 255
Comments on these proposed rules may be made at the hearing, by
mail, or by electronic mail at the following addresses until 12/12/2022 at
05:00PM.
OUT OF STATE MAIL
52 Weeks
$429.00
26 Weeks
$214.50
13 Weeks
$107.25
1 Month
$36.85
Attention to Debbie Lange
Michigan Department of Treasury, Bureau of Tax Policy, PO Box 30828,
Lansing, MI 48909
Easy Pay – $36.85 per month
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Fax: Advertising, 228-3273; News Dept., 228-2617
Print only rates are available, call the Circulation Department.
All subscriptions are nonrefundable.
The Mining Journal, USPS 351-020, ISSN 0898-4964, is published daily Monday through Saturday, except Federal holidays by The Mining Journal at
249 W. Washington Street, Marquette, Michigan 49855, and is especially devoted to Upper Peninsula interests. Periodical postage paid at Marquette,
Michigan. “Postmaster: Send address changes to The Mining Journal, PO. Box 430, Marquette, Ml 49855
The public hearing will be conducted in compliance with the 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act. If the hearing is held at a physical
location, the building will be accessible with handicap parking available.
Anyone needing assistance to take part in the hearing due to disability
may call 517-335-7477 to make arrangements.
All advertising is subject to approval by the Publisher. The Mining Journal reserves the right to reject, alter or omit part or all of any advertising copy or
artwork at any time, even though the same shall have been previously published or funded. The advertiser agrees that the Publisher shall not be liable for
damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the
error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the Publisher’s employees or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of
any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. This newspaper will not knowingly accept or publish illegal material of any kind.
Advertising which expresses preference based on legally protected personal characteristics is not acceptable. All subscriptions are nonrefundable.
Marquette Office:
249 W. Washington, Marquette – (906) 228-2500
