Deere plans 2 new wind farms in Thumb
Published: Thursday, July 8, 2010 7:45 AM EDT
By Kate Hessling
Tribune Staff Writer
UPPER THUMB — A John Deere Wind Energy official on Tuesday
confirmed the company’s plans to build two new wind farms in the Thumb.
“Both projects have been under development for several years,” said
Angela Gallagher, of John Deere Wind Energy.
The first project is Michigan Wind 2, a farm that will be built in Sanilac
County. The project will provide 90 megawatts of renewable energy capacity.
Gallagher said this project will be centered in the Minden City area. She
said this project will be composed of an estimated 50 turbines.
Harvest II, the second project, will be in Huron County. It will provide
59.4 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, and will be located north and
south of the Harvest Wind I project in Chandler and Oliver townships,
Gallagher said. She said this project will be composed of an estimated 33
turbines.
“John Deere Renewables is currently planning the project and will be
coordinating with the local township boards and the landowners,” she said.
“The construction schedule has not been finalized.”
The power from both projects will be purchased by Consumers Energy. Late
last month, Consumers Energy announced the company has reached power
purchase agreements with independent developers for more than 240 megawatts
of new Michigan-based renewable energy.
In a June 25 statement, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm said Consumers Energy’s
agreements to purchase power from four new renewable energy projects in
Michigan are “another clean step forward to a clean energy economy.”
“These projects will help power Michigan homes and businesses, build
markets for our growing wind manufacturing industry and create jobs,” she
added.
Consumers Energy reports the power purchase agreements are for 20 years and
have been submitted for approval to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
In addition to the two projects in the Thumb, the third renewable energy
project is the Blissfield Wind Energy project, developed by John Deere Wind
Energy and Great Lakes Wind, LLC, in Lenawee County. Consumers Energy
reports this project will provide 81 megawatts of renewable energy capacity
to Consumers Energy beginning in late 2012.
The fourth project is an additional landfill gas electric generation
facility at Waste Management Renewable Energy’s Pine Tree Acres landfill
near Richmond in Macomb County’s Lenox Township. The project will provide
12.8 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in
2012.
Michigan Wind 2 in Sanilac County will begin providing energy capacity to
Consumers Energy beginning in 2012. Harvest II will begin producing energy
capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in late 2012.
Consumers Energy reports the four power purchase agreements support the
company’s plan to increase its renewable energy supply portfolio to 10
percent by 2015 to meet the requirements of Michigan’s energy reform law.
Currently, more than 4 percent of the power Consumers supplies to its
customers comes from renewable sources based in the state. Energy from the
four new projects will bring the total expected supply from renewable
sources to more than 6.2 percent of Consumers Energy’s retail electric
sales, according to a release the company issued late last month.
The release states once ready for construction, the new wind projects each
are expected to create between 150 and 200 construction jobs.
Kate Hessling • (989) 269-6461 • khessling@hearstnp.com