Wind Energy

Wind energy systems use the wind to turn a set of aerodynamic blades attached to an electric generator or turbine. When the wind blows, the blades turn, spinning a shaft that creates electricity in a generator. Wind turbines that are being manufactured have power ratings ranging from 250 to 2,000,000 watts (2 MW).

For example, Traverse City Light and Power has a 600 kW (600,000 watts) wind generator that provides power for approximately 200 households. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has estimated that Michigan has a potential for development of 16, 560 MW.

• Report of the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council (October 1, 2010)
• Letter to Governer from Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth - GLOW Council Report Trasmittal Letter (October 7, 2010)
• Why Offshore Wind?
  A presentation given by the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council at the March 25, 2010 Bay City Coastal Community Meeting.
  
• Wind Power Installed in Michigan
  
• Harvest Wind Farm Fact Sheet
  This fact sheet was produced by Creative 360 took tours to the wind farm in June and October of 2008. The wind farm is a leading example of Michigan's future in renewable energy technology. Their next tour will be on August 8, 2009.
  

Large Off-Shore Wind Information

• Ann Arbor Startup Hopes to Facilitate Offshore Wind Farms Out of Sight (September 18, 2008 - Ann Arbor Business Review)
• Deep Offshore Wind Power Generation Using Oil and Gas Platform Technology (December 18, 2008 - Renewable Energy World)
• Michigan Great Lakes Offshore Wind Permitting Dry Run (May, 2008 - Final Report - MEDC, GLERA, Mikinetics Consulting, LLC)
• Regulators Plan Great Lakes Off-Shore Wind Generation (October 29, 2008 - Kalamazoo News)

Local Wind Energy News Articles

• Detroit Free Press:  Wind Turbines Propel Michigan Closer to 2015 Renewable Energy Goal (February 17, 2014) 
• Detroit Free Press:  Michigan’s largest wind farm starting to take shape (July 10, 2011)
• MLive: Proposed wind farms details to be discussed during Muskegon County Planning Session (July 9, 2011)
• The Grand Rapids Press: Wind Turbine Policies Need Revisiting, Michigan State Researchers Say (Friday, July 1, 2011)
• The Bay City Times: Saginaw Valley plans Advanced Energy Storage conference on June 3rd (Monday, April 26, 2010)
• The Bay City Times: Michigan Wind Energy Conference showcases Saginaw Bay area projects (Thursday, April 22, 2010)
• The Bay City Times: Bay County to install wind turbines, run solar-powered golf carts (Friday, March 26, 2010) 
• The Bay City Times: Delta College to offer wind turbine technology degree (Wednesday, April 15, 2009)
• The Bay City Times: Bay County businesses jockeying for spot in growing renewable energy industries (Monday, January 26, 2009)