Why Not Ohio? More Wind Power For Michigan

[Dan Moadus]

How much is this costing us?

[irishbobcat]

Why Not Ohio? More Wind Power For Michigan

By LINDA GITTLEMAN

Gratiot Managing Editor

If Gratiot County does not become the wind farm capital of the area, it won't be for a lack of wind farms.

Invenergy, which has already begun work on its wind farm in Wheeler and Bethany townships, along with north sections of Emerson and Lafayette townships, has announced plans to build a second wind farm.

From 125 to 133 more turbines are now being planned for Lafayette, Emerson, North Star, Newark and Hamilton townships, said Invenergy's spokesman and project development manager Kevin Parzyck.

Invenergy's second wind farm is not to be confused with another company's plans for its wind farms in roughly the same area.

Beebe Community Wind Farm, which is partnered with Nordex, is also planning a wind farm in Emerson, Lafayette, Hamilton and North Star townships too.

Parzyck said it's possible that some of these wind farms could overlap in the township areas, but he's not sure where that might occur.

"(Invenergy's wind farm) is continued (from the first wind farm)," he said. "We are working our way south to North Star (where the transmission line is located.)"

A third company's windfarm - or fourth depending on how they are counted - called Trade Energy has been put on hold for the time being. It would be located in the southwestern section of the county.

With its announcement on Monday, Invenergy is doubling the size of its farm. Its first wind farm alone, could provide enough energy to power up to 50,000 homes