Good news blows into Michigan: State lands 1st large wind turbine assembly plant

[marmar]

from the Detroit Free Press:



In a major boost for Michigan's emerging wind-energy industry, Gov. Jennifer Granholm plans to announce today that the state has attracted its first large wind turbine assembly plant.

Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., intends to use a facility in Saginaw to manufacture its next-generation large wind turbines, expected to be the first ones built in the U.S. using 100% American-made parts. Plans call for sourcing as many parts as possible from Michigan companies.

Economic development officials have long sought to bring large turbine manufacturing to Michigan in order to increase opportunities for the state's more than 100 wind turbine parts makers, many of whom are auto suppliers looking to diversify.

Northern Power already has a deal to supply 13 of the turbines for a Heritage Sustainable Energy wind farm near Escanaba that will supply power to Consumers Energy, state officials said. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20101207/BUSINESS06/12070343/1318/Good-news-blows-into-Michigan-State-gets-wind-turbine-plant

[pinto]

1. Good news, economically and environmentally.

Though wind driven energy production is likely to remain a small segment of the energy picture in the near future, this is a boost for the industry and the state's manufacturing sector.

[Laelth]

2. That's terrible news for someone. Wind power BLOWS.

But, many people have to learn this for themselves ... the hard way, at enormous public expense and at the expense of large areas of clear-cut land and stripped, barren mountaintops.

Good news for the Michigan economy, though.

-Laelth

[AlecBGreen]

3. offshore has good potential

though its always a question of feasibility: money & maintenance.

[Nihil]

4. Looks like the workers up there might be getting a change of luck!

> Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., intends to use a facility in Saginaw
> to manufacture its next-generation large wind turbines, expected to be the
> first ones built in the U.S. using 100% American-made parts. Plans call for
> sourcing as many parts as possible from Michigan companies.
>
> Economic development officials have long sought to bring large turbine manufacturing
> to Michigan in order to increase opportunities for the state's more than 100 wind
> turbine parts makers, many of whom are auto suppliers looking to diversify.

That should get some of the "buy American" support that the car manufacturers have
and turn it into pro-renewable support (instead of the existing pro-status-quo views
that tend to be supported by such folks at present).

:applause:

[jimlup]

5. Unfortunately Snyder will get and claim the credit

Even though it was Granholm's deal.