"Taking the wind out of energy sales" jumped out at me on the Sunday June 10, 2007 from the front page of the Grand Rapids Press. Lengthy article but worth the read.
We all know that Chicago is referred to as the "Windy City". Chicago lays on the East Side of Illinois on Lake Michigan. The winds that blow through Chicago go across Lake Michigan (usually) and end up on the Western Coast of Michigan. It is on the West Coast of Michigan you will find Oceana County.
Have you ever seen the mitten trick? I think you have if you have ever asked someone in Michigan where they live!
Those of us who live in Michigan have been born and raised with it! It is our quaint way of showing you where we live! Interactive Blog!!! Put your left hand in front of you, palm facing away, fingers together and thumb out to the side. That is Michigan, the Mitten State. If you point to the spot just below your pinky, that is approximately where you will find Oceana County. Lake Michigan would be the great space on the left side!!!
Evidently, there have been several wind turbines in the planning stages in Oceana County. The farmers have leases with a developer, but now some residents and the local planning officials are fighting it.
Michigan ranks 14th in the nation for wind. Estimates are that Michigan could produce 7,460 megawatts of power from wind. What does this translate to? A megawatt is estimated to power 250 - 300 homes. Let's take the lower number for sake of example, 250 homes x 7460 megawatts - unreal! Michigan wind harnessed could power 1,865,000 homes - almost two million homes!!!
courtesy of :shutterstock.com
Think about the effects! Reduction in coal burning, reduction in greenhouse emissions.... JOBS!!!
Back in the early 80's my husband owned a restaurant. We had construction crews in a couple of times a day who were erecting towers for "phones" - Wow! What a concept back then when cell phones were unheard of. Who knew that 20 years later cell phones would be on every person's hip. We thought they were nuts back then! How wrong we were.
Are we facing the same battle again with wind turbines????
This article stresses the importance of education to me. We need to get the education out there FIRST before we try to blast the changes through, thinking people are not listening and watching.
Those who are fighting the implementation talk about a spoiled view and unreliability of the wind. Of course, no one wants to "see" a wind turbine in their backyard. On the flip side, it is estimated $50 million dollars pumped into Oceana County's coffers through leases, property taxes and local jobs. Would these same people appreciate the influx of dollars, influx of entreprenuers to the state who are basing decisions on Alternative Energy availability??? We need to learn to educate people before we are embroiled in battle. Thanks to AR and other similar communities who are on that quest.
Wind Turbines are not just for revenue for the farmer and the utility company. It is a way of sustaining our environment, most importantly, utilizing that which our creator gave us in a positive way. Additionally, these projects will create jobs, may I add Michigan sorely needs jobs? Ideas like these will make a better life for all.
To me this sounds like a big political game...I want it, you don't...he who has the most pull wins....
What has been the experience of people in other states overcoming these objections??? Input would be greatly appreciated.
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They are certainly more attractive than electrical poles and wires, and serve up clean energy. I like it a lot.
Hi Mary !
Thanks for sharing this info with us. Keep posting !
Nalliah Thayabharan
Commercial and Residential Building Inspector
Expert Building Inspections Ltd
Mary,
We had a huge battle over the two large wind turbines erected in Mackinaw City. I believe they power the entire city and then some! I think they are awesome looking, they are so massive. After rumblings that more would be erected in various other locations in our area, restrictive amendments to most zoning ordinances prohibiting wind turbines were enacted. Aesthetics won't mean much when the planet flames out from a depleted ozone layer!
Laurie - I agree, I think they are very cool! Many people have blinders on and can't see progress until it's right in front of them.
Nalliah - Thanks, I'll keep you up to date! What is going on with wind power in Canada?
Stefan - Good information. Mackinaw Power, which is a company based in Lowell, is the same company battling over the Oceana Project. There is currently a bill pending in the Michigan Legislature aimed at taking away local control and setting up statewide standards to make the construction of wind farms easier. I have never been a fan of taking away local control, yet with the controversy surrounding these projects something needs to be done.
In another article yesterday on Michigan.gov Granholm announces Michigan's First Wind Farm which is a joint venture between John Deere Wind Energy, Wolverine Power, and the Harvest Wind Farm. Huron County is at the tip of the thumb. This will be great for that part of Michigan. There is not much industry there and the jobs and the influx of money to that part of the state will lead to great opportunities. Applause to the forward thinking residents.
Huron County, incidently, is beautiful. My Irish Anscestors originally settled in the Michigan Thumb area because the penisular reminded them so of Ireland!
Let's not let the lights go out on Michigan!
I read the same article with great interest Sunday - if I hadn't been busy writing a blog about my Hole in One I wouldv'e written a post on this because I found the whole issue fascinating. Everyone wants it - just not in my backyard and not if I'm not getting the revenue seems to be the attitude.
By the way - I just sold a home in Oceana County last month - what a neat home! And what a great area - such beautiful lakeshores, lakes and sanddunes!!
How awesome to work your way up the lakeshore!! Don't we have a beautiful state!!!
I would trade a hole in one for writing a blog, any day of the week! Not that I don't enjoy this but Wow! Joining the "Hole In One Club" must feel so awesome! What a cool feeling!
If we could just tap into all of the hot air we hear going about doing our business, that would be great to tap into as well. Wind Energy and anything else we can do to get past the oil industry corruption that runs our country as quickly as possible is a good thing. Make that a great thing. Thanks for being conscious. Thanks for sharing.
Mary, I like the idea of wind farms, But they should not spoil the view of other Michigan Wonders. The placement of those in Mackinaw City is atrocious. Spoils the view of the Bridge from the St Ignace side. I doubt the wind decreased that much a mile or two further inland at 250 feet.
The tip of the mitt wind farm sounds like a better solution. If the ones in Oceana County are back from the lake, I doubt they'll get much of a battle. Certainly less than the new coal fired plant being planned in Midland.
Mary, asperagus producers in Michigan lost more than a million dollars last year and were not able to find labor to harvest 5 percent of the crop. Wind Farm should be welcomed in the area, if properly located. ;-)
Gary B - here, here about the hot air!!! Especially the media who seems to enjoy reporting everything negative and few positives about the industry.
Gary S - the Grand Rapids paper had an article regarding the asparagus farms last week. Sad to see that happen. I agree that they shouldn't spoil the views although I do think they are pretty cool looking and like Laurie says, better than telephone poles and wires!
They also look much better than a coal plant!
A wind generator??? sounds cool, we'll see
Thanks Adam & Eric - I'm in agreement with you. I'm looking forward to next week!
Gary - you will see such cool things at the showcase home! Amazing the design features and how they have brought it all together - TEAM Hybrid is tops in my mind!
We have about 6 big windmills on the west Maui mountains now. When they came up, there were all kind of letters to the editor about how ugly they are. I think they are beautiful, when I see them, it reminds me that we all can make choices each day to protect our environment.
sounds like potential to purchase land for future wind development. I would love to hear what is the next area potential for this new energy.
Tom - I have heard mumbling about future wind farms in Lake Michigan. My personal opinion is that they would be a good thing. I don't think it will happen without opposition. If you google "Wind Farms In Lake Michigan" you will find links to many articles, pro and con, that will provide some interesting reading and research that has been done. Thanks for your interest and comments!
Hi Mary - the major utilities companies in Florida have explored this option, but early reports indicate we don't have the consistent winds needed except off Cape Canaveral and the lower SW coast near Naples. It's not clear yet if they will pursue wind at this point. They have even considered using off-shore wave action to power turbines, but discarded that theory at this point.
Florida Power & Light recently announced a $2.3 billion solar thermal project for baseload which is a big deal around here and we're all quite excited about it. If they are successful in producing enough energy from this project to provide and store energy in this manner, it will move the electric utility companies in a different direction in this part of the country for the first time in decades!
Karen W - My sentiment mirrors yours. As we drove out east from Michigan last spring we passed some large wind farms on the way. I did not realize how massive the structures actually are. What a great way to use "natural" resources. Thanks for the interest and comments!
Karen M - Yes. I think there is a lot of potential! Here is the run down on a couple of other Michigan projects currently in the works.
Heritage Sustainable Energy is building a wind farm in Richland, Michigan. DTE has made an agreement to purchase power from them. This project will be a 6,500 acre wind farm.
The Harvest Wind Farm is being constructed in Huron County in the "thumb" of Michigan. This recent article says it will be operational in December.
I have also spoken with some people who have some interesting ideas on "community" wind farms. The idea being that rather putting individual wind generators at homes the community comes together and purchases a parcel on which to erect several turbines for that community. Jennifer Alvarado from GLREA explained to me that currently the law is 3 per acre. I think it is an idea worth exploring! Thanks for the interest!
Eva - too bad they can't just harvest the hurricane winds and store them! LOL! Here is a link to some wind maps which show where the winds around Michigan are at different heights. The maps were developed by AWS Truewind, and innovator in renewable technology. IMHO wind farms will be great for Michigan and Michigan's economy as a whole.
I'm interested in hearing more about your solar thermal project! Keep us updated! I have recently been exploring solar for the home. There are some great products to get one started rather inexpensively with panels for domestic hot water (DHW). DHW is estimated to be around 65% of the average home owners energy bill. The ROI is estimated around 7 years after tax credits are applied. Thanks for the comment!