By CHRISTIE BLECK

Journal Staff Writer

L’ANSE — Renewable Energy Systems is no longer pursuing the Summit Lake Wind Project, a proposed 130-megawatt wind farm in L’Anse Township.

Continued delays in the planning process have ceased to make the project

financially and logistically viable, RES announced on Friday.

“After a careful review of several factors, RES has decided to discontinue the development of the Summit Lake Wind Project,” said Sean Stocker, RES project manager, in a news release. “We have enjoyed working with the local community and want to thank all the landowners and supporters of the Summit Lake Wind Project.”

According to the project website, summitlakewind. com, Renewable Energy Systems had proposed a wind energy facility with 49 turbines, each almost 500 feet tall. RES was to have been conducting environmental and technical surveys to assess the project’s viability.

That website, however, has been taken down.

Many community members had voiced opposition over the Summit Lake Wind Project, including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, which announced in 2018 it was against the project.

At a Monday “Indigenous Environmental Movements” class at Northern Michigan University, which was open to the public, KBIC President Warren “Chris” Swartz said the project wouldn’t be viable because of the lack of wind, also noting the project infrastructure would have a negative impact on the environment.

RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, has been in business for over 35 years. RES employs more than 2,000 people and is active in 10 countries.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.