More alternative energy projects are coming to Washtenaw County next year, and they range from job creation to education. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is leveraging federal dollars to create a traveling wind energy exhibit that will crisscross Washtenaw County for the next year or two. Ypsilanti Township officials are also reviewing plans for a solar production facility.
According to Ypsilanti Township's
website, V-Max USA is proposing to build a solar technology production facility in the township. The 30,000-square-foot structure would go up on Michigan Avenue near Ellsworth Road. The township is expected to further review plans for the project early next year.
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is also partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to buildout a wind energy education exhibits. One of the exhibit will be mobile so it can make visits to schools and events across Washtenaw County.
"We have a travel exhibit that will become permanent," says Mel Drumm, director of the
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Four of the exhibits will be housed in the downtown Ann Arbor museum. The traveling exhibit will also start out in the museum for six months before going on a year-long tour of the county. The exhibits will focus on providing users with a hands-on educational experience about how wind energy is generated, stores and distributed. It will start out as a simulation of how wind energy works but Dumm hopes it can become something more real, such as incorporating actual wind energy generation into the exhibit.
"We are actively seeking a way to do that," Drumm says. "The best way to learn is to do it."
Source: Mel Drumm, director of the Ann Arbor Hands-on Muesum
Writer: Jon Zemke
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