Why Not Ohio? Michigan Moving Ahead In Wind Energy

[irishbobcat]

Why Not Ohio? Michigan Moving Ahead In Wind Energy

Last week's announcement that Michigan has attracted its first large wind-turbine assembly plant provides a much-needed lift for the state's fledgling alternative energy industry.



This year, Michigan companies eager to make wind-turbine parts, solar panels and ethanol have encountered a number of headwinds, ranging from poor market conditions and unwilling lenders to Washington's failure to establish a new national energy policy.
Two high-profile projects in the state have gone nowhere, and two others are waiting for loans from the U.S. Department of Energy. And Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who has led the state's push into this industry and is one of its most-vocal supporters, is leaving office at the end of this month.

But the challenges haven't stopped Michigan companies from moving forward with their plans to invest in the industry, particularly in wind energy.

• In Eaton Rapids, URV USA has received so many orders for its wind-turbine castings that it has doubled production plans for a foundry it plans to open at the end of 2011.

• Astraeus Wind Energy is building machines that will be used to manufacture spar caps for wind-turbine blades at a plant in Port Huron.

• In Canton, workers at Danotek Motion Technologies are making prototypes of generators for large wind turbines, with production scheduled to start next year.

• In Midland, Dow Chemical is hiring 100 workers for a pilot plant that will manufacture solar roofing shingles.

• In Jackson, Great Lakes Industry is getting ready to order multimillion-dollar machines to make the enormous gears that go into large wind turbines.

• And just last week, excited state officials revealed that Vermont-based Northern Power Systems plans to start making large wind turbines at a factory in Saginaw. Initially, it will be building 13 turbines for a new wind farm in the Upper Peninsula.

"There's a future for wind energy in Michigan and the United States," said Scott Mabie, Danotek's director of business development.