Why Not Y-Town? Michigan City Looks At Future Wind Farm

[irishbobcat]

Allegan Co. inches closer to wind farm
Holland votes to spend $40K leasing land
Updated: Thursday, 19 May 2011, 8:51 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 19 May 2011, 8:51 PM EDT

By Dani Carlson
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - Allegan County took another step toward having a wind farm Thursday.

At a meeting, the Holland City Council voted to spend nearly $40,000 to lease about 860 acres in a rural area just south of the city.

Mayor Kurt Dykstra said the land may be used for wind farms in the future, but for now, the county is in an "investigation stage," and still gathering data.

Several months ago, the county started collecting data about wind energy at three separate places, Dykstra said.

The site near Holland -- and where those recently leased acres are located -- produced the most promising wind results.

That site also is close to the city, Dykstra said, which would make it easier for a potential wind farm to tap into the city's infrastructure.

Dykstra said wind data collection will continue for at least the next several months, but if everything goes well, the first wind turbines could be built as early as next year.