Wind farms in the Upper Peninsula? According to Offshore Wind, it's quite the possibility. The online magazine indicated that the Great Lakes Wind Council, appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2009, came to Upper Peninsula recently to discuss that very possibility.
Though the council discussed the idea of wind farms creating energy along the coasts of the Upper Peninsula, it was stated that there was still a lot of work to be done before it became a reality.
Excerpt: The council consists of a 29-member board and follows a list of specific criteria on which to base evaluations. After an area is evaluated, the council places it under one of the following definitions: categorical exclusion, conditional or most-favorable.
Once the council designates a favorable area, public opinion is gathered to gauge the feasibility of the offshore farms. The recent meeting outlined the possibility of farms located as close as the Garden Peninsula.
Following the Escanaba meeting, Dan Foster, CEO of Solar Now LLC, based in Midland, expressed his optimism regarding the exploration of the lake-based wind farms.
"The Great Lakes Wind Council is a great boost in the local economy, a tremendous and clean impact on the environment and health of the the entire U.P.," said Foster. "The wildernesses and beautiful landscapes in the U.P. are critical to protect and save for all future generations."
Foster, who commended the council on its unique approach to acquiring public opinion, was excited about the possibility of a greener way to harness energy.
"I am for anything that phases out coal or oil – these farms would mean a tremendous boom for Michigan," he said. "The GLOW council spent two years researching this and has done a fantastic job presenting their findings to the public."
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Source: Offshore Wind
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