In the Orion of the future, where are you going to power up your flying electric Jetsons car?
Well, if a recent action by the township board of trustees is any indication of how new technologies will be approached, there will be plenty of places.
The board voted 7-0 to approve spending $1,600 at their regular meeting June 1 to look into changing current township ordinances for not just electric vehicle charging stations, but also electric-generating windmills. A portion of the money will also be spent in looking at alternate uses for vacant industrial buildings.
The items were brought before the board by Trustee Neal Porter.
With electric cars being touted as the possible saviour of the environment, not to mention Michigan’s economy, it’s not too farfetched to envision charging stations in parking lots and service stations where batteries can be switched out.
‘I don’t think it’s been a problem so far, but I think it will be,? said Porter.
The township’s stance on how such places would be dealt with needs examination, according to Porter.
‘That needs to be looked at in our ordinance, whether or not we’re going to allow that,? he said.
And if the Motor City can be weaned off gasoline, will other clean energies be blowin? in the wind?
‘Right now all wind-creating generators are illegal in Orion Township,? Porter said, adding they’d all be over height.
While Orion’s not in a high wind district, it’s something the planning commission needs to look at, as far as zoning.
The motion also included what can be done with vacant industrial buildings.
‘Recreation is definitely something that should be looked at,? Porter said.
The $1,600 will be paid to the township’s planning firm, Carlisle-Wortman for the three items: $500 for ordinance amendment for electric cars, $600 for wind energies and $500 for industrial uses.
Supervisor Matt Gibb said the time’s right for the items, especially the wind energy issue. According to Gibb, DTE wants the township to tackle the wind energy ordinance because of citing requirements.
‘They don’t want people randomly plugging into their system. So, I think it’s a good timing in a lot of ways,? Gibb said.