First phase of wind assessment study released

The West Michigan Wind Assessment has released its first report and found that wind energy development is progressing throughout the region. Allegan County was recognized by the state as one of four regions in Michigan with the highest wind power production potential.

The project staff at Grand Valley State University is analyzing the environmental, social and economic benefits and challenges of wind energy development in West Michigan. The report is the first phase of an integrated assessment of wind energy in four coastal counties — Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan — funded by Michigan Sea Grant.

Erik Nordman, principal investigator of the project, said key findings include:
• While the state government issued a renewable energy mandate, managing the deployment of wind energy facilities is left to local governments.
• Of the 73 townships in the study area, 37 (48 percent) have zoning ordinances currently in place.
• 15 townships are in the process of developing an ordinance; 21 do not have an ordinance.
• Oceana County has the highest proportion of townships with ordinances in place (69 percent); Allegan has the lowest (38 percent).
• The Wind Energy Resource Zone identified Allegan County as one of four regions with the highest wind power production.
• 8 wind projects are currently in the planning stage across the West Michigan study area.
• Grand Valley’s Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center has proposed building an offshore testing platform to assess Lake Michigan’s wind energy potential.

The next phase of the project includes specifically analyzing the environmental, social and economic foundations and interactions that make wind energy development a complex challenge. The team will also investigate approaches for mitigating adverse effects so net benefits of wind energy can be maximized.

The full report, including other key findings, can be viewed or downloaded from the West Michigan Wind Assessment Web site at www.gvsu.edu/wind.

For more information, contact Erik Nordman at (616) 331-8705 or GVSU News and Information Services at (616) 331-2221.