In between the many hills on 2,000 acres of dairl farm land in Missaukee county is a revolutionary wind power generation station. They are very hard to miss. It included 9 wind turbines which can produce a maximum of 19 MW of renewable energy, The Stoney Corners Wind Project is what we are talking about and this project is now certified as fully operational and there is even plans for expansion.

Leases were actually started at least 7 years ago. After that, there was a pilot 2 and a half MW double turbine in 2008. After that, there were seven more installed in 2009. They are hoping to install 10 more in 2010 according to the CEO, Marty Lagina, of Heriatge Sustainable Energy.

This company operates from Traverse City and is now working along with DTE Energy, who operate from Detroit, on this project. Now since the wind farm’s fully operational, it is also the 1st one that has been developed as part of the new energy law of the state which requires 10% of power in Michigan to be generated by renewable energy in 2015.

“Besides that, irrespective of if you believe in the problems caused by carbon dioxide, it appears that this major problem is with all fossil fuels and this is the main reason we need to start moving away from these sources of energy in the society. Thus, we need to bring in alternative sources of energy,” is what Lagina had to say.

He also said that the location in Richland township is great for wind farms as this point is the highest one in lower peninsula & the farm is supposed to be supplying enough electricity for powering 1000′s of homes in north and south Michigan.

“This region stays windy for a large part of the year and this makes a lot of difference as wind is very important for this project. Electricity is going to be provided to 1000′s of homes & by this time in 2010 we can expect that number to no less than double as the capacity is also going to be doubled,” Lagina said.

He says that at the end of 2010, both the companies are planning to install 10 more wind turbines which would produce 20 MW of energy. He also says that both the companies that are a part of this project will also be taking some electricity from the turbines.

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