Michigan Policy Network - Wind Energy Turbines, An Emerging Sector of Michigan's Economy

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Wind Energy Turbines, An Emerging Sector of Michigan's Economy

Written by Jeffrey Astrein

Sunday, 12 July 2009 16:58

While making efforts to diversify Michigan's economy, wind energy companies are turning their eyes to Michigan. With a decline of manufacturing in the State of Michigan, particularly in the automotive industry, U.S. and European wind energy companies see Michigan's potential of manufacturing superior wind turbine supplies as well as providing domestic energy to nearby cities and states. The emerging wind industry in the United States recently surpassed Germany as the largest market for installed turbines and there are more than 35 companies in Michigan supplying components or services to the wind energy industry, a number that is quickly growing (Gustafson).

Last March in Detroit, European wind turbine companies Vestas, Nordex, and Siemens expressed their needs for more domestic suppliers to manufacture critical components at the 2009 Michigan Wind Energy Conference. Northern Power, an energy based company in Vermont which focuses on community wind projects, is considering a contract manufacturing facility that will build wind turbines in Michigan and use components from companies located within the state. Across the country, wind energy companies are racing to meet the U.S. Department of Energy's outlined report which requires that 20% of the country's energy come from wind energy by 2030. Meeting this goal will require an increase from 15,000 wind turbines currently installed in the U.S. to 140,000 according to Dan Radomski, Vice President of Industry Services for NextEnergy, a non-profit organization and one of the nation's leading catalysts for alternative and renewable energy located in Detroit. This will create thousands of new jobs (Gustafson).

Recently, the Michigan Wind Energy Resource Zone Board selected four regions highly suitable for wind energy; three of them in West Michigan and one in the state's thumb. The regions were chosen from preliminary findings in a report prepared by Public Sector Consultants Inc. and the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute based on wind resources, land availability, and energy production potential. The board consists of 11 members which includes representatives from: cities and villages, townships, electric utilities, independent transmission companies, environmental organizations, alternative energy suppliers, the public, the Michigan attorney general's office, and the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC). The board will issue a final report for the PSC which will be used with other information to determine which areas will be designated as a "wind energy resource zone." While nothing has happened yet, the report has been submitted to local governments in the regions for their input which is due by August 4. Public hearings are scheduled to take place August 24 in Bad Axe and August 31 in Scottville (Lane). Counties within the four regions identified include:

West Michigan
* Allegan
* Antrim
* Charlevoix
* Benzie
* Leelanau
* Manistee

Thumb Area
* Bay
* Huron
* Saginaw
* Sanilac
* Tuscola

Sources:

Gustafson, Sven. http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/oakland/index.ssf/2009/03/sven_gustafson_blogs_about_ene.html

Lane, Amy. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090602/FREE/906029981

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Northern Power
written by Eagar Student, July 22, 2009

Sounds like Michigan is moving in the right direction. Does anyone know whether Northern Power has finalized where is will manufacture in Michigan?

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