State moving on giant wind farm for Lake Michigan

--This article originally appeared on August 13, 2009

The Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council has recommended a change in state law that would allow the placement of wind turbines six miles off the coast of Lake Michigan. It's the first step, of course, but if the pieces fall into place Michigan could be the first state to harness the great wind of the Great Lakes.

Excerpt:

The study is based on the premise that the Great Lakes have enormous wind energy and economic potential, especially Michigan's portion.

Approximately 40 percent of the Great Lakes fall under Michigan's jurisdiction. A Michigan State University report released in September 2008 revealed the state could generate 321,936 MW of electricity from the winds blowing off those waters, assuming no restrictions are put in place. That's roughly one-third of all the electricity now generated nationwide.

If a shoreline distance of six miles is maintained and an installation depth of up to 60 meters is permitted, that potential capacity drops to 36,337 MW. Up to a depth of 30 meters at that distance, the figure drops further, to 9,481 MW.

But even the lower numbers would represent a substantial increase in Michigan's power generating capacity. The state currently has 12,331 MW of continuous capacity annually.

Read the entire article here.