Under the 1836 Treaty between the United States and the Ottawa and Chippewa nations, Native Americans ceded approximately 13,837,207 acres of Michigan and the Treaty gave the Ottawa and Chippewa permanent rights to fish in treaty area water, which clearly includes the 100 square mile area desired by Scandia. Further, a 2000 Consent Decree between the U.S. Government, State of Michigan and the Native American, governs allocation, management, and regulation of State and Tribal fisheries in the 1836 Treaty waters through 2020. It spells out commercial, sport and rehabilitation zones and any special conditions for a fishing zone. It would seem rights of the Cippewwa and Ottawa under the 1836 Treaty may have to be addressed. More information on this can be found by searching on "The Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority" and "A Guide to Understanding Ojibwe Treaty Rights".

I hope that there is a problem with this story. Are we to understand that a developer who is proposing a $3 billion project is "confused" regarding the water depths off of Oceana and Mason Counties? Any fisherman with a $100 depthfinder (or a downrigger) can tell you the water depth 2 miles off of Silver Lake. Better yet, my $30 West Marine software allows you to plot area of the windfarm over depth scales and shows you exactly the depths the turbines would face. This makes no sense and clarification of the moving target being detailed by Scandia is in order.

Why are these developers, who are acting against The Wind Council's original recommendations, being allowed so much leeway here? It seems like we are already entering into negotiations with these guys, How far off shore? HOW FAR OFF SHORE? who even said this was ok anywhere? WHY them, other than they got here first with Money, A PowerPoint/ dog and pony show? we did not agree to this, or to them. No competitive bids, billion dollar contracts, meetings in the dead of winter? What on earth is going on here? do they have friends in high places? can somebody find out who? in one and a half months it seems we are marching to their tune. I plead to local, state and federal officials: protect us from the fast and reckless railroad job.

I agree. They are moving this proposal from a "yes/no" state to a "yes-now let's work out the details" state. And their claim that moving them farther out is "not feasible" is untrue - it IS feasible. What is not feasible to Scandia is they won't turn a profit fast enough. Money, as usual, is the driving reason they won't do what the people are telling them, and we'll all lose out on what I think is the most pristine scenery in the great lakes area. Hundreds of turbines blocking the view - not to mention what it will look like at night with three hundred blinking lights sprawled across the horizon. DO WHAT IS RIGHT!! MOVE THEM OUT OF VIEW!!!

Proximity to shore is just one question that must be asked before wind projects are constructed in Lake Michigan. There are currently NO wind projects in any inland lake in the world. The environmental reports of existing wind projects - all of which are smaller than the one proposed for Oceana and Mason Counties - are based on ocean studies. Neither the Wind Council nor Havgul/Scandia has ANY idea of the potential impact of ANY wind power plant in Lake Michigan, no matter how far from shore. Another critical question is why Havgul is the ONLY company the Wind Council is talking with. Many other wind projects, including Cape Wind in Massachusetts, are many miles offshore. Proposals for large projects like Aegir are almost all at least 7 miles offshore and some are as far as 18 miles offshore. If Havgul doesn't have the knowhow - or if they demand the highest possible profit - perhaps there are other companies that are more willing to negotiate. WE are in the strong position. It is OUR lake these developers need. WE should be choosing who we want to work with, rather than letting Havgul threaten to take the dubious 'first mover' opportunity away.

Consumers is already in the process of a land based wind farm in Mason County. (They came to my door offering $50 and acre up front, then $5/acre annually for me to sign on) It will be interesting to see when they put a monitering tower out in Lake Michigan to find out the actual viability of the windmills. Then if the data shows it is the most desireble area, then it can be considered. This is all in the earliest stages right now. If they are going to be built, they need to be built where they will produce the most energy.