I can't help but feel like our pro-wind-farm movement in West Michigan helped to expedite Muskegon County's decision to proceed with a 150 MW wind farm in its massive waste water treatment facility. Fifty wind turbines the county hopes to begin construction on by 2012. (Thank you, Muskegon County commissioners!)
Muskegon County ready to move forward with wind farm
MUSKEGON COUNTY — By the end of this calendar year, a wind-energy developer could be in place and Muskegon County officials likely will be considering specifics of the proposed wind farm for the county’s wastewater site.
County officials are planning to move rather quickly over the next couple months in setting up and selecting a wind developer for the planned project that would result in large turbines generating 150 megawatts of power.
Oh but that's not all...
Muskegon County is looking to engage in a private-public partnership with L3 Combat Propulsion Systems in Muskegon to BUILD the turbine generators HERE IN MUSKEGON! And if the name "L3 Combat Propulsion Systems" sounds a bit intimidating, it's because the company in various forms over the decades has basically built suspension, turrets, and engines for tanks and other military vehicles.
How's the saying go?
Beating our swords into ploughshares?
From combat propulsion systems to wind turbine generators:
Muskegon County officials, including eight county commissioners, met with local L-3 leadership last week to discuss the defense contractor’s push into the commercial alternative-energy market and a potential private-public arrangement with the county.
[snip]
A magnetic-based generator for wind turbines, deemed much more efficient than the typical gear-driven model in current wind turbines, is the basis for L-3’s plunge into the commercial market as it attempts to diversify itself beyond the parts it makes for military vehicles. The hybrid motor stems from a Germany technology company, Magnet Motors, that L-3 purchased last year and could be used in onshore and offshore turbines.
Many months ago our pro-wind-farm group, now with 7305 Facebook fans, engaged in a campaign to motivate people in Muskegon and Ottawa Counties to convince a wind farm developer to propose a wind farm here. Eventually, they actually did it and in addition to a 500 MW wind farm offshore, they proposed a 150 MW wind farm in Muskegon's wastewater treatment facility.
The Commissioners took that proposal and decided it would be nice to have some competitive bids to go with it, and sent out a general request. Kinda sucks for the developers who originally proposed the plan...but competitive bids are a healthy thing.
At the end of the day...luring the original developers to make proposals in the area has seriously expedited the development of a wind farm in Muskegon county AND appears to be a launching point for creating a brand new industry here.
How about that, eh?
Now bring me that horizon!
Next for the offshore wind farm.