The document summarizes the Gratiot County Wind Project in Gratiot and Midland Counties, Michigan. It will consist of 133 GE 1.6 MW wind turbines generating 212.8 MW of clean energy, enough for 55,000 homes annually. Over 250 landowners have signed agreements to lease over 30,000 acres for the project. Construction began in July 2011 with the first turbine erected in August 2011. The project will eliminate air pollution by generating zero-emissions wind power and bring economic benefits to the community.
March 2012 - Michigan Energy Forum - Richard Vander Veen
1. Rich VanderVeen, Wind Resource, LLC
414 E. Main Street, Suite B, Lowell, MI 49331; 616.897.1305
rich@windresourcellc.com
Mackinaw City 1999 - 2001 COD Bay Windpower
•Emmet County, Mackinaw City and MPSC approved Consumers Energy Green Power Pilot Program Tariff +
Thanks to you who provided support and leadership!
2001 – 2012:
•Michigan Wind Working Group, Great Lakes Wind Collaborative, NREL, et al.
•2008 PA 295 = MI 10% RPS with your Support and Leadership!
Gratiot County Wind Project –
•Location: Gratiot/Midland Counties, Michigan
•Size: 212.8 MW (133 GE 1.6 MW XLE Turbines) sited on 35,000 acres utilizing less than 300 acres;
generating new clean power for 55,000 homes, annually = Energy Security.
•Financial Capital: $450M + Investment; creating 200 Construction & 10 Permanent Jobs and new
industrial park; increasing the County, Townships and Schools Tax Base, reducing others’ tax load.
•20 Year DTE PPA Approved by MPSC locks in $94.43/MWh 2012 – 2032.
•Social and Community Capital: 250+ Families signed the unique Wind Resource Pooling Easement
Agreements, protecting family farms for future generations.
•Countywide Wind Energy Zoning & Unanimous Permit Approvals.
•MISO & ITC Interconnection completed providing 99.9999999% power quality.
2012 – 2025: November 6, 2012 25 X 25 Ballot Initiative wins with your Support and Leadership!
3. Pooled Wind Sites
– Wind Resource has created a unique Pooling Easement
Agreement that allows for every landowner in the Project
Area to become a part of the Project whether they own 1
acre or 1,000 acres.
– More than 250 landowners have signed Wind Resource
Pooling Easement Agreements totaling more than 30,000
acres in the Target Area.
4. Wind Studies
• Gratiot Wind is currently assessing the wind potential in the Gratiot
County area
• Gratiot Wind has obtained extensive wind data over the past two years
• Gratiot Wind has two 60 Meter NRG Meteorological Towers fully
erected
2007→Sherwood Farm, Bethany Township
2008→Humm Farm, Lafayette Township
• AWS TruePower determined 1.6 MW GE XLE on 100 m towers ideal
5. 133 1.6 MW XLE GE Wind Turbines
• Hub
• Approximate Length: 78’
• Approximate Weight: 75,000 pounds
• Nacelle
• Approximate Length: 113’
• Approximate Weight: 200,000 pounds
• Tower Sections (5)
• 100 meter tower
• Approximate Length per Section: 70’ – 90’
• Approximate Weight per Section: 170,000 pounds
• Foundation
• Typically poured using a belt truck.
• Base is 250 yards of concrete (843,750 pounds).
• Blades (3)
• Approximate Length per Blade: 150’
• Approximate Weight per Blade: 70,000 pounds
• Pedestal is 30 yards of concrete (101,250 pounds).
6. Gratiot County Wind Project: Protecting the Great Lakes
Est. Emissions & Waste Eliminated by Generating 500,000 MWh of
New, Zero-Emissions Wind Power Annually
Annual MI Emissions Eliminated Annual Great Lakes
Air Pollution & by new, zero-emissions Regional Emissions
Waste Wind, using Consumers Energy eliminated in
Average emissions in lbs. /MWh lbs./MWh
Sulfur Dioxide 3,200,000 4,100,000
Carbon Dioxide 971,500,000 1,093,000,000
Oxides of Nitrogen 865,000 1,000,000
High-level,
Radioactive Nuclear 3,450 4,150
Waste
Wind power causes NO Mercury
Mercury Deposition in our 10,000
MI lakes & Great Lakes Source: www.consumersenergy.com
7. Gratiot Wind Project
Gratiot Wind Project Team & Experience
Gratiot Wind Project Economic Impacts
The Special Use Permits Approved Unanimously March 25, 2010
Comply with:
1. UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED WIND ENERGY ZONING
ORDINANCES
2. WIND PROJECT OVERLAY MAPS and
3. LAND USE REQUIREMENTS OF Emerson, Bethany,
Lafayette (Gratiot Co.), and Wheeler Townships
4. Unanimously approved site plan approvals for all 133 sites in
four townships, Gratiot County
10. Wind Power
Educational Materials
The following focus on solid science and market-based, Triple Bottom Line economics.
• 2012 MI Ballot Initiative to Encourage 25% Renewable Energy by 2025 – www.mienergymijobs.com
• NREL 10 Benefits and 10 Myths about Wind Power
Benefits- http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37602.pdf
Myths- http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37657.pdf
• The Michigan Wind Energy Siting Standards, www.michigan.gov/dleg
• The MSU Wind Energy Siting Bulletin provided to Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Municipal League, Michigan
Environmental Council, www.msue.msu.edu/wind/siting_wind_Systems_Bulltin1.pdf
• NREL County Commissioners Planning Book – distributed at the 2007 meeting of the Michigan Association of Counties
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40403.pdf
• AWEA Siting Guidelines www.awea.org
• Utility Wind Integration Group – Setting siting and wind integration standards through utility experience, www.uwig.org
• The National Wind Coordinating Council www.nationalwind.org
• Wind on the Wires http://www.windonthewires.org/reg_resource.html
• The American Wind and Wildlife Institute www.awwi.org
• The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative, www.glc.org/energy/wind
Please visit our websites for further information.
www.windresourcellc.com
