THUMB’S UP FOR WIND IN MICHIGAN

DTE sees 280 wind turbines in Thumb's Huron County
March 22, 2009 (AP via Chicago Tribune)

"The skyline in Michigan's rural Thumb could look a bit like historic Holland a few years down the road under DTE Energy Co.'s announced plan to install 125 wind turbines in Huron County by 2015 -- and 280 within two decades.

"DTE Energy officials told Huron County commissioners the company must add 1,200 megawatts of green power to meet the state's new energy mandate. State rules require utilities to provide 10 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

"The Huron County wind turbines eventually could provide 4 percent to 4.5 percent of the company's total power…[Initial construction should create about 200 jobs and begin in 2011]..."

There's certainly wind in the thumb - but there's a lot more on the lakes. (click to enlarge)

"The Detroit-based utility now generates about 1 percent of its power from renewable energy sources…DTE's goal is to have about 3 percent of its electricity generated from renewable energy sources by 2012…

"State law requires DTE to buy at least half of the remaining 9 percent of total power that has to come from renewable energy sources from a third party. DTE says it seeks to produce the other half of the renewable energy from its own projects… primarily through commercial-scale wind projects and some smaller solar projects…

"DTE has about 55,000 acres of land easements signed, with about 7,000 more acres under negotiations…DTE officials said the utility expects to cap the renewable portion of its generating capacity at 10 percent… because green power still costs more than power from coal and nuclear plants…"