A wind farm in the thumb has delivered the first large scale alternative energy to the state.Thirty-two wind turbines now provide power to Pigeon, a community of 14,000. After years of talk the state—the 14th windiest in the nation thanks to its Great lake frontage—has finally entered the alternative energy race. These turbines join the 4 or 5 others in the state, and change the wind energy ranking from 30th to 22nd. Still only 3% of all Michigan's power is renewable, (60% is non-renewable coal) but growth has been steadily increasing. Twenty other wind projects are proposed across the state. Michigan has the ability to produce 267 times the current wind power.
Governor Jennifer Granholm has been vying for additional additional alternative energy sources, 10% by 2015, and if she succeeds Michigan would join the 28 other states that have required a commitment. Not only that, but the demand for wind power (which currently has wind companies with a two-year backlog) could bring up to 17,000 jobs and $6 billion in investments. The new wind turbines were made in Denmark.
Another source of jobs and entrepreneurship is to develop the current transmission infrastructure to support the new energy sources. Current transmission limits the distance that the renewable energy can travel. The best place to build wind turbines is in rural areas.
States' wind power
The United States added 5,244 megawatts of wind power last year for a total of 16,800 megawatts nationwide. The states with the most installed wind power as of Dec. 31:
1. Texas... 4,356 MW
2. California...2,439 MW
3. Minnesota...1,299 MW
4. Iowa...1,273 MW
5. Washington...1,163 MW
22. Michigan...56 MW*
* As of March 2008
Source: American Wind Energy Association
Governor Jennifer Granholm has been vying for additional additional alternative energy sources, 10% by 2015, and if she succeeds Michigan would join the 28 other states that have required a commitment. Not only that, but the demand for wind power (which currently has wind companies with a two-year backlog) could bring up to 17,000 jobs and $6 billion in investments. The new wind turbines were made in Denmark.
Another source of jobs and entrepreneurship is to develop the current transmission infrastructure to support the new energy sources. Current transmission limits the distance that the renewable energy can travel. The best place to build wind turbines is in rural areas.
States' wind power
The United States added 5,244 megawatts of wind power last year for a total of 16,800 megawatts nationwide. The states with the most installed wind power as of Dec. 31:
1. Texas... 4,356 MW
2. California...2,439 MW
3. Minnesota...1,299 MW
4. Iowa...1,273 MW
5. Washington...1,163 MW
22. Michigan...56 MW*
* As of March 2008
Source: American Wind Energy Association
18 comments:
I’ve never understood why so many people get upset about windmills because they claim “they’re ugly and noisy”. I have never in my life seen them in that way. They’ve always seemed majestic and graceful to me. In the article they mention the turbine built by Traverse City Power and Light. That’s a big one. Huge blades. It makes almost no noise at all and is dare I say kind of a beautiful moving structure build in the middle of expansive green fields that overlook the bays. When it first went in, local farmers made all sorts of outrageous claims about its noise level, but anyone visiting it could quickly tell they were just scared about the possibility of their property values going down. Some people fear change of any kind. That turbine is due to pay itself off in about 3 years from now I believe. My only gripe about it is that it was purchased from Sweden and was then shipped over and assembled in TC at a pretty hefty expense. The U.S. should definitely have companies that supply these things if states want them. The world’s superpower should not have to buy windmills from northern Europe… how embarrassing.
When I think of a windmill I think of one sitting in a big open field right in the middle. I don't know why. I agree with Kyle on the aspect of those people that complain about them are confused. I think that they can be very beautiful. I haven't ever been that close to a windmill to truely know believe that they are so loud, but really I would rather a windmill be noisy and ugly then keep on the track that we are with our environment. I believe that people like the ones in this article that are complaining so much about the windmills are only looking at bad aspects of the situation. How much is it or could it help our environment. I think we need to take a look at how it is helping us.
I think this is a great idea to increase the number of windmills because it will help our environment. Using wind energy to produce electricty is conserving our non-renewable resources. Wind energy also help provide energy for thousands of homes. It will also help with the 10 percent goal for 2015. Chaz Douglas geog 320
I think it is fantastic that Michigan is stepping up and starting to turn the wheels toward sustainable energy. The potential is fantastic and it is also nice to hear that the people in the communities where these turbines are located are receptive to their presence. They seem to recognize the need for change and are happy that they are at the forefront of that needed shift in energy production.
To those who see the new wind turbines as an eye sore in their vacation lands need to check themselves and should take it as a sign of progress. The world energy demands are not going to be shrinking anytime soon. If we do not continue to strive for clean energy the something more aesthetically displeasing will invade vacation havens, and that would be smog, dirty water, clear cut forests, dirty beaches, and many other things associated with forms of energy that are not sustainable.
As far as these turbines being bought from Sweden, it would be nice to see more American companies perhaps try to change production to try to tap into this market. Changing a paradigm that is so engrained, as energy production is in this country, takes small steps and this is one in the right direction.
It's great to hear that Michigan elevates the wind power.
Since it's difficult to live without electricity today, I believe it's important to built more wind mill whether it is ugly thing to built or not.
Geog 320 Yuki Uchida
It's good to see Michigan starting to use more of its natural environment to help, well everything. As the world becomes more aware of the many environmental issues that we are facing including pollution from coal and its effect on people and the environment, wind power seems like a great alternative that will really start to boom in the future years to come. With Michigan only using a fraction of its wind power potential currently and with continued benchmarks being set by the government this could be a great boost to our economy as well as the entire US economy.
Ryan McMullen-geog 320
This is wonderful news, but I am a bit concerned as far as the promise of so many new jobs in wind power. I'll not profess to be any sort of expert on the subject, but it seems like there would be a tremendous burst in initial employment for the construction of the windmills followed by a pretty serious drop-off. I only suggest this because windmills seems like they would really only require a minimally staffed maintenance crew after their construction. How long would the full 17,000 workers really be employed? If employment is to be one of the advertised benefits of bringing "green" energy to Michigan, this tyro believes that perhaps efforts would be better spent on one of the emerging energy sources that would stand a better chance of offering long-term employment to a larger number of people, (modifying the already existing auto/airline industries based out of detroit could help bring back furloughed workers, etc.). Hopefully the jobs in research and development will expand into some sort of statewide initiative that could result in the sort of job permanency that will be needed to resurrect our state. Michigan doesn't need a quick fix of imported labor who can settle in the state just long enough to lose their jobs and send the economy right back where it was.
Don't misunderstand - I'm just as excited as the next guy. The news that an entire town in MI is now off the grid is fantastic any way you put it and here's to hoping that tiny Pigeon, MI has blazed a trail for the rest of the state!
~ Tim Golden (Geog 320, Lecture)
It say in on point of the article that they windmills could become a tourist attraction. As silly as it sounds the windmills as a tourist attraction would be a great thing, if enough people could go see them up close, learn the benefits of having them it would spread not only the knowledge but the ideas of conservation and alternative energy. On another one of the pages its says that smaller energy companies are saying that creation of windmills will reduce competition and cause for an increase in energy rates. To me that’s garbage, because they have less competition or are losing business they are going to jack rates up to make up for their losses. It's companies like that, that are contributing to the struggle for alternative energy sources to come into play.
I do not have a problem with the steps that MI has taken to become a power player in the renewable energy race. I just hope that we will come to be a trend setter in some way shape or form. The way to really make a mark is to do something outside the box and become a leader instead of just a tag along. Research and development might be the key to our comeback. Despite our in state recession and mass migrations elsewhere, Michigan remains a powerhouse in the education pool. The market for alternative energy is fresh and the potential is unlimited. So let's hope our leaders in government do what's expected of them and LEAD.
The fact that Michigan has the ability to produce 267 times the current wind powerand has not is confusing. It is a renewible resource that outside an up front investment is maximum return for seemingly little investment. Hopefully we can see an increase somewhere in the 10% renge Jenny wants by 2010.
I agree with Kyle Kurtzal when he states that the wind turbines should not have to be purchased from Sweden. Why can't we make them over here in the United States. By making them here, more jobs would be created and that would help boost the economy of Michigan. It would also cut back on shipping costs and the pollution caused by shipping them here. So my making them here the economy benefits in many ways. Plus, thousands of homes can be run by the energy created by the windmills. Hopefully our state will invest in more windmill projects.
It's about time! I actually think the turbines are very cool looking, especially when there is a long row of them. Regardless of what they look like, they are much better looking than a powerplant, factory, pollution, etc. I had a friend who worked for the washtenaw land trust this summer and she told me they were planning on putting some up in Scio Twnshp.
It appears we are moving in the right direction with the wind turbines we've added to move Michigan from the 30th to the 22nd state in wind energy ranking. Now we just need to continue this pattern and introduce more wind turbines, especially because we have the potential to produce much more wind power!
In response to Kyle, I do see why many people would not like these turbines because they are big and "ugly" but I also realize that this is something we need to do in order to become more sustainable. So...I guess we'll just have to deal with the "uglyness"!
Josh, I agree with your comment that you would like to see more American companies produce these wind turbines. At the same time, Americans can help the environment and our economy by creating more jobs!
I am thrilled to see that we are moving in the right direction. Small steps to a sustainable future. While we are still a long ways behind in 22nd place, we are advancing. We can't get to where we want to be if we aren't moving in the right direction, and it seems that we are taking the necessary steps to get there. Windmills are not noisy and are hardly terrible to look at. I find it difficult to hear that people are bothered by a structure that is benefitting our economy, our state and our lives. To me, seeing a windmill makes me grateful for the effort that is being made to provide for the future. It is going an extra step to go the extra mile.
It is about time that Michigan has slowly began to realize that we can not live off of the non-renewable natural resources that are drying up ever so quickly. It is even better that Granholm is preparing to have up to 10% by 2015. However, this is not good enough and we can do alot better with all the availbilities we have. We are not using our renewable natural resources to there fullest extent. We have 18% of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes alone. Not even counting all the rivers and lakes that are throughout the state. Water along with wind, the 14th highest in the nation, can easily give us an overwhelming amount of alternative energy sources. We need to act and take advantage of the resources that we will continue to have and limit the use of ones that are drying up because of our overconsumption. Many states are far ahead of us in the amount of alternative energy sources. If having new sources of energy is not enough, being able to bring in 17,000 jobs and over $6 billion dollars in investments to a state whose economical situation has been in a severe struggle would seem like an absolute no brainer to create a win-win situation.
Kyle Seay
Online Geography 320
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