
Construction will soon begin on what will be Michigan’s largest wind farm, according to the Detriot Free Press. The Invenergy farm will be located in Gratiot County, where 133 turbines will be built on various farms throughout the county.
The 30,000 acre project is designed to produce 200 megawatts of energy. According to the newspaper, the farm will have the capability to power over 50,000 homes, which is more than all the state’s other wind farms combined.
Most Gratiot county residents support the shift to green energy because of the expected economic boost from the wind farm. The project is projected to employ 150 construction workers and 15 facility operators. In addition, the annual lease payments for land used are expected to help the local economy and contribute to community development.
Wind power is a growing industry. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 35 percent of all wind power capacity has been created in the past four years. The AWEA reports that currently, Michigan only has the capacity to produce 164 megawatts. Future projects are expected to create over 2,500 megawatts of energy in the state.

