Consumers settles with 17 of 19 plaintiffs over wind turbine farm.

LUDINGTON — Consumers Energy Co. has settled a lawsuit with 17 residents from Riverton and Summit townships over the Lake Winds Energy Park. The trial was scheduled to being this week, but the case was settled with 17 of 19 plaintiffs. Negotiations continue with the other two plaintiffs and their case in 51st Circuit Court has been postponed until next year.

The terms of the settlement are confidential. The lawsuit was filed in April 2013 with the plaintiffs alleging noise, vibrations and flickering lights from the 56 wind turbines were causing sleeplessness, headaches, dizziness and other physical symptoms. They also cited economic loss and were requesting a court order for Consumers Energy to cease and desist its activities and to abate the intrusions.

“Consumers Energy is pleased to have reached an agreement to settle with 17 of the … plaintiffs, and we are hopeful to do the same with the remaining two parties,” the company said in a statement released by spokesman Dennis Marvin.

“While we remain confident that the law and facts support Consumers Energy’s position, it is in the best interest of our customers to avoid the expense and uncertainty of what was likely to be a lengthy court process.

“We will continue to operate Lake Winds Energy Park safely as well as be actively engaged with Mason County officials and local residents as we have since Lake Winds first started generating clean renewable electricity in November 2012.”