Counties with wind farms overwhelmingly opposed renewable energy plan

By ZACHARY PEÑA
Capital News Service
LANSING — Environmental groups are preparing their next move after voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment to require 25 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources. Statewide, more than 62 percent opposed the renewable energy plan, based on unofficial returns collected by the Secretary of State. The only county where it passed was Washtenaw, where nearly 52 percent voted yes. Three of the four counties with the greatest percentage of voters rejecting the proposals have wind farms: Missaukee (79 percent), Huron (77.5 percent) and Osceola (74 percent). John Sarver, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, gave two theories for the Election Day failure.