Project News
The Citizens for Wind Energy Web site is now online. Visit www.citizensforwindenergy.com to learn more.
Detroit Edison signed a 20-year power purchase contract which paves the way for Invenergy Wind LLC to install and operate a 30,000-acre wind farm near Breckenridge.
The wind park will be the largest thus far in Michigan, generating 200 MW of energy -- enough to power nearly 54,000 homes. The new facility will bring immediate economic benefits to Michigan. Construction should employ more than 150 skilled workers and 15 full-time local high-tech jobs servicing the turbines, not to mention the ancillary spend with local vendors to maintain the turbines and the project's infrastructure.
The newly-formed Citizens for Wind Energy (CWE) group hosted a BBQ for wind supporters in Bad Axe on the evening of Aug. 26. The evening was an opportunity to learn about the CWE and the issues facing wind development in the county – particularly the ballot referendum coming up on Nov. 2. DTE Energy was one of the developers on hand to answer questions. Over 800 attendees enjoyed a BBQ dinner, live music, and entertainment for the kids.
Members of the CWE include a nine-member local Huron County leadership team, over 200 local residents, and the major wind energy developers in the area – DTE Energy, Heritage Renewable Energy, John Deere, Midland Energy, and RES Americas. A Web site and further updates are under development.
In July Huron County Commissioners (6-1) approved zoning amendments to establish two new wind energy districts in areas of Bloomfield, Siegel, Rubicon and McKinley Townships. The wind energy districts will allow developers to apply to build wind farms in the wind energy districts provided the wind farms meet all of the siting and operating requirements of Huron County, the State of Michigan and applicable federal agencies. Pursuant to petitions on these amendments, County Wind Energy Proposals 1 and 2 have been added to the November Ballot. Voters in the 14 County-zoned townships within Huron County will have the opportunity to vote yes and confirm the creation of the these two wind energy districts.
Detroit Edison issued a Request for Prequalification to purchase wind turbine generation equipment to be installed at one or more wind farms in Michigan, ranging from 100 to 200 MW. Detroit Edison is seeking respondents that can provide wind turbines capable of producing a minimum of 1.5 MW. Qualified suppliers will be invited to submit a proposal during the next six to 12 months, but only companies that submit a response to the prequalification request will be considered. The deadline to respond is Sept. 3.
The Foundation has provided funding for the purchase of science kits and accompanying materials for all 2,700 Huron County students in grades kindergarten through seventh grade. Each elementary school will receive 25 kits in the fall of 2010. For the 2011 school year, the program will be expanded to include science kits focusing on renewable energy.
DTE Energy will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day at the Embracing Our Earth festival on Saturday, April 24 at the Bad Axe High School. The DTE Energy Foundation is pleased to be the Gold sponsor of this year's event.
At the Detroit Edison booth, kids can create their own mini-wind turbine and enter to win some beautiful kites. For the adults, we will have information on energy efficiency, wind power, solar power, and other programs and services. Play our “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” game to win prizes!
The University of Michigan is purchasing the renewable energy output of two wind turbines at the Stoney Corners Wind Park through the DTE Energy GreenCurrents program. The total amount of energy purchased equates to 2 percent of UM's total electricity consumption by the Ann Arbor campus.
Irene Dimitry, Director of Renewable Energy for DTE Energy, participated on a panel at the Alternative Energy Conference hosted by the Engineering Society of Detroit on March 3. The panel discussed global and national policy benchmarking related to alternative energy.
The panel concluded that a non-partisan renewable energy center of excellence should be developed in Michigan.
They also recognize that while renewable energy offers many opportunities to Michigan residents, there are hurdles to overcome.
“Michigan has the skills to be the leader in the renewable industry, but achieving that will require a lot of collaboration across industry and government to figure out the policy,” Dimitry said as she fielded a question from the audience.
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has designated two Michigan regions as wind energy resource zones, essentially confirming the report submitted by the Wind Energy Resource Zone Board in October 2009.
The MPSC designated Region 4 as the primary wind energy resource zone, which includes parts of Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. It also designated Region 1 as an additional wind energy resource zone. Region 1 includes parts of Allegan County.
“Michigan today has taken a giant step forward in harnessing its abundant wind energy, which has gone virtually untapped,” said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu. “Transmission companies will now be able to expedite siting of the transmission projects needed to move the wind energy onto the electric grid. The result will be a more reliable and robust electric grid, cleaner air, a more diverse fuel supply, and the creation of many renewable energy jobs.”
As reported in the New York Times, wind power in the USA grew 39% in 2009.
“The American Wind Energy Association, in its annual report to be released on Tuesday, said the amount of capacity added last year, 9,900 megawatts, was the largest on record, and was 18 percent above the capacity added in 2008, also a banner year.
The wind industry has undergone rapid growth in recent years. Since 2002, the country’s installed base of wind turbines has jumped almost sevenfold.
Mr. Stephure [an analyst at Emerging Energy Research, a consulting firm in Cambridge, Mass] said that by 2020, wind’s installed capacity could be five times higher than it is today, reaching about 180,000 megawatts.”
The Stoney Corners Wind Park in McBain is now operational and providing power to the electrical grid.
Traverse City-based Heritage Sustainable Energy installed seven large-scale wind turbines at this 2,000-acre wind farm near Cadillac. Detroit Edison is purchasing both the power and the Renewable Energy Credits associated with the energy production.
The wind turbines, which are capable of producing about 14 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, are 403 feet tall from ground to the tip of the upright blade. The project created 100 construction jobs and four full-time jobs at the site. The wind farm now is producing 19 MW from nine wind turbines.
Read the press release.
