 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| |||||
Development Business Assistance Economic Development Economic Indicators Manufacturing Trade Transportation Workforce Development Business and Environment Agriculture Energy Fish and Fisheries Forests and Forestry Maritime Pollution Prevention Sustainable Development References Agencies & Organizations Demographics Jobs and Careers Legislative Tracking Great Lakes Priorities Legislative News |
Wind Energy in the Great Lakes Region What's New | Overview | General Resources | Related Resources Energy: Biomass | Efficiency | Renewable | Wind 
What's New Grand Haven Township schedules public hearing on proposed wind turbines on lakefront Muskegon Chronicle (11/18) The city of Grand Rapids, Mich., is considering a $15 million proposal to build two wind turbines on land it owns next door to its Lake Michigan Water Filtration Plant in Grand Haven Township. Michigan's Thumb eyed for more wind turbines WEYI Mid-Michigan (11/17) Plans to bring more wind turbines to Mid-Michigan are moving forward. The Thumb-area has been identified as one of the best locations for wind energy generation. Light & Power windmill grinds to halt Traverse City Record Eagle (11/12) A generator bearing failed and the turbine ground to a halt, said Ed Rice, Traverse City Light & Power's executive director. The windmill has been broken for about six weeks. Repairs are expected to take up to three months to complete and will cost an estimated $15,000 to $20,000, he said. Wind law plan leads to feud Watertown Daily Times (11/12) Iberdrola Renewables Inc. and Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization are trading jabs over the proposal to amend the town's zoning law for wind power facilities. Rochester businesses hope to tap into wind energy business Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (11/11) Pictometry International Corp. is mostly known as an aerial imaging company, not the kind of outfit people commonly associate with the growing U.S. wind power sector. But now Pictometry hopes to sell its aerial photography data to wind power companies. Wind farm health and environment Indian Country Today (11/8) Wind farms, offering environmentally friendly energy are popping up all over the map, and First Nations are jumping on board with developers. But First Nations are aware of the health concerns and controversies surrounding the turbines.
Overview There are numerous opportunities to be had from the development of both onshore and offshore wind energy. In the Great Lakes region, planning and construction are moving forward at a breakneck speed. The eight-state Great Lakes region has a tremendous capacity for new wind development, especially offshore. According to estimates provided in the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report, the Great Lakes states would contribute 61,288 megawatts toward achieving the 20 percent scenario. A primary benefit of using wind-generated electricity is its role in reducing the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere. Wind-generated electricity is produced without emitting CO2, the greenhouse gas (GHG) that is the major cause of global climate change. In addition, wind energy does not require the level of water resources consumed by many other kinds of power generation. As a result, it may offer communities in water-stressed areas the option of economically meeting growing energy needs without increasing demands on valuable water resources. While we generally do not think of the Great Lakes region as being water stressed, lake levels are dropping all around the basin and the impacts of climate change to those levels are still unknown. Wind energy can also provide targeted energy production to serve critical local water system needs such as irrigation and municipal systems. In addition, wind energy can bring much-needed economic development to our region.
General Resources Great Lakes Regional Wind Energy Institute The Great Lakes Wind Energy Institute is a regional collaboration that provides the tools for Wind Working Groups to better equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to promote wind energy within their states. Great Lakes Wind Collaborative The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative (GLWC) is a group established to build consensus and identify and address issues affecting the planning, development, and operation of wind power facilities in the Great Lakes region. Habitat Conservation: Wind Power U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Ecological Services The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stands ready to work with industry and other governmental agencies and stakeholders to facilitate wind energy project design, siting, and operation to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts. Wind Power and Wildlife Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies State fish and wildlife agencies are involved in different aspects of wind power development and to different degrees (e.g., consultation with developers, review of permits, cooperation with other states agencies and utility regulators).
Related Resources GLIN: Agencies and Organizations, Energy GLIN: Renewable Energy in the Great Lakes Region | |
|
News | Calendar | Great Links | SOTM | E-Lists | Info Center | About GLIN The Great Lakes | Environment | Economy | Education | Maps and GIS | Tourism
Great Lakes Information Network |
||
