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Great Lakes WindFrom Great Lakes Wiki Great Lakes Wind is a corner of the wiki to explore wind power in the Great Lakes region. It is an ongoing project initiated out of a class at Michigan State University's Graduate School of Journalism [edit] Table of Contents[edit] #Basics[edit] #Residential Wind Use[edit] #Wind Farms[edit] #Business[edit] #Effects on Wildlife[edit] #School
[edit] Basics
[edit] Residential Wind Use As utilities rates continue to rise many U.S. consumers are considering alternative energy options such as wind energy to supplement or even fully supply their electrical power. Wind farms have emerged on the landscapes across the country supplying large populations of consumers through various utility providers. What if you are an individual consumer who may like to supplement or convert to wind energy – what considerations do you need to be aware of before going off the grid? This section on residential wind energy will provide visitors with some initial information to help determine if a residential wind system is appropriate for your location and your lifestyle. A fact most wind energy prospectors do not consider is that when investing in a wind system, an entire system is required to capture the wind – simply installing a small wind turbine is only one component of the system. The system also includes a generator, a governing system, a shut-down mechanism, and a tower for mounting your system just to name a few. Many other factors impact the success of the system In considering whether a wind turbine is an energy option for you, the following information will be helpful as you begin your wind use research: Wind Residential Zoning and Permits Utility Requirements and Buy Backs Wind Use Liability and Homeowners Insurance For an introduction to small wind systems for residential usage, the American Wind Energy Association offers this brief slide presentation and FAQ sheets. Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (in Muskegon, Michigan) has developed a commerical turbine for home owners that will provide up to 20 percent of a residential unit's electricity... more... with EarthTronics (based in Muskegon, Michigan) ready to move into production of the unit... more Even though this clip is not about Michigan wind energy usage, its information is very relevant to anyone considering residential wind energy options U.K. Wind Turbine
[edit] Wind in The Power Grid#Table of Contents Detroit Edison has has launched their Green Currents program as "a Michigan-based, green energy program that makes being green easy and affordable," according to their web site. Under the program, consumers can switch over some – or even all – of their power consumption to sustainable sources for a small extra fee. The blog Send Energy reported that “more than 8,000 customers have signed up for GreenCurrents” since its start in April of 2007, “making it one of the fastest growing voluntary renewable energy programs in the country.” The program not only make consumers feel better about their power usage, but will benefit the emerging green economy in Michigan by purchasing power from green power plants in Michigan. Send Energy quotes Trevor Laurer, vice president of retail marketing for DTE Energy, who explained: "This RFP requires that providers be located in Michigan, and that their renewable energy facilities be newly constructed," Lauer said. "We want the resources for the GreenCurrents program to be homegrown -- and we expect to sign long-term agreements with developers who share that vision." The program is also available to businesses. Nexcess.net web hosting is one company that is promoting their involvement in the program, reporting a switch to 25% green energy for the company. DTE have even begun developing its own sources of green energy by purchasing easements on land where it would like to locate wind turbines, as reported by Crains Detroit business news. In August of 2007 they also signed an agreement with Heritage Sustainable Energy to develop a wind farm in Richland Twp, according to a press release from DTE
Instead of directly purchasing all of the energy for the Green Current program from Michigan sources, the power company has been purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs). Instead of contracting directly with a sustainable power provider, RECs are a more indirect investment tool for renewable energy. (More information about RECs is available at awea.org. The center has also criticized DTE energy’s Green Currents program for taking a similar approach. The center’s David Wright commented on these program in a January 16, 2008 program on WEMU. The biggest problem with using RECs, according to the center, is that it will not promote the development and growth of Michigan’s own home-grown renewable energy sector. They promote an alternative program, REAL, based on the GREENCHOICE program in Austin, TX.  Consumers Energy has also initiated a renewable energy program that customers can sign up for called Green Generation. Those interested can enroll in the program and add a Green Generation charge to their monthly energy bill. According to the Green Generation Web site, the monthly charge will be invested in renewable energy produced in Michigan. Mike Bishop from Consumers Energy cited two windmills near Mackinac City as Michigan-based contributors to the program and also Consumer's Energy supplier, Noble Environmental, will participate in the program after the completion of a 69-megawatt wind-farm currently under construction in Michigan's thumb region.
[edit] Wind Farms[edit] Wind Farms in MichiganA crop of test towers sprinkled around the Michigan landscape could sprout into fields of wind turbines producing clean, sustainable energy to the grid if test data show promise. That day is a year or more away. For now, in the words of Alpine Township Trustee Sharon Steffens, “the bugs have to be worked out.” In west Michigan, Alpine and some neighbor townships face the almost overnight prospect of wind farms in their communities. While wind turbines and wind farms have cropped up in Plain states and the southwest for years, master plans and zoning rules haven’t come close to the concept in Michigan. And yet owners of crop and animal farms are willing to sign land leases, sometimes on the spot, that will last into perpetuity. Alpine Township has land within an area referred to as “the Ridge,” where 40 percent of the state’s apple production is grown. Some 66 percent of the Ridge lies in Kent County, only 20 miles from downtown Grand Rapids and 25 miles from Lake Michigan With elevations greater than 800 feet, the area could be primed for wind farms to flourish. To help landowners sort out options is the Ridge Economic Agricultural Partners. This coalition mainly promotes area fruit markets, but stepped up to bring experts together with landowners. A community meeting held in June showed how perplexing the issue is. Another REAP meeting will be planned, Steffens, a REAP member, said. David Schweikhardt, wind energy expert and agricultural professor at Michigan State University, handed out a work sheet his department devised for land owners. He cautioned that seeking advice from a lawyer would shed light on aspects of a land lease. The MSU Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics and the MSU Extension provide information about wind energy on its Web page. “We have no idea what energy costs will be 10 years from now,” said Eric Wittenberg, research specialist of the MSU department, “not to mention 50 years from now. A lease goes with the land, not the person. Land could have more value in the future if it has a good land lease. It could have huge ramifications as for as value – worth millions and millions of dollars.” Wittenberg said the work sheet and the Web site are designed to “bring awareness” to the people involved. Not far from Alpine Township is the city of Holland, known for its 246-year-old DeZwaan windmill, and another area delving into wind energy. The Holland Board of Public Works intends to erect a test tower on Windmill Island to measure wind reliability sometime soon. In his annual State of the City address in December 2007, Holland Mayor Al McGeehan said an electric generating windmill would be one way to make the city “more green.” The city and Ottawa County are working together on a wind energy project.
[edit] Test TowersIn mid Michigan, Greater Gratiot Development Inc. and MSU Extension in Ithaca brought landowners and dealers in wind power together in 2007. Several test towers are visible from M-46 between the city of St. Louis and village of Breckenridge. Whether wind turbines are actually built will depend “on a year’s worth of data,” Pine River Township Supervisor Kevin Beeson said regarding Gratiot County sites. “How steady winds blow” will be a factor in gauging the area’s future in wind power, he said. Frederick Phelps, associate professor of physics at Central Michigan University, has been promoting a plan for the university to study several central and northern Michigan sites “to determine if wind velocities are sufficient to make wind turbines economically feasible,” he said. Several years ago, Phelps based his calculations about central Michigan on data from Minnesota’s Carlton College that has used a single windmill for most of its power since 2004. Phelps believed CMU could benefit in a similar way. The Carlton turbine is less than two miles from the 1,000-acre campus. Saint Olaf College, about five miles away, is powered by its own turbine. Phelps has been interested in wind energy since the 1970s. He signed up for a summer program sponsored by NASA through which faculty staff could work on developing wind turbines. There’s been no better time to employ wind power now, Phelps said. Phelps has explored possibilities for years down to how a school could finance wind power. A state law giving income tax credits in exchange for donations designated for wind farms is a sound proposition, Phelps said. A caveat would be to have those wind turbines manufactured in Michigan, he added. Contact Professor Phelps for more information at phelps1fm@cmich.edu.
[edit] Wind Speed MapsWind speed maps are tool commonly used for illustrating which areas in a region have the highest potential for wind farming. Different types of maps can be combined to show municipal, wildlife, and farming information. State, federal, and private researchers have all studied wind speeds around the country at different scale. US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has a map showing wind speeds across the USA and its coasts.[1] Wind speed maps for individual states can also be viewed, such as for Michigan.
[2] [edit] Business
[edit] Business overviewMichigan is poised to benefit from the “tremendous growth in the wind industry,” throughout the United States and even overseas, said the leader of a wind energy consortium. The Michigan Wind Energy Manufacturing Working Groupincludes NextEnergy, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Public Service Commission, Michigan State Energy Office, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and Western Michigan University.Dan Radomski, vice president of industry services for NextEnergy and co-chair of the group, said wind power is growing fastest in the U.S. and this is “a great opportunity for traditional manufacturing in Michigan.” A January 25 radio report from Michigan Now discusses how wind power will help Michigan compete in today’s world. (click here to listen)A typical utility wind turbine used to convert wind to electricity has 8,000 parts, Radomski said. Thirty manufacturers in Michigan are already supplying components to such turbines. Another 200 – 300 companies have the “competency and capability” to produce parts for the turbines, he said. “We know how to do this stuff.” In addition to manufacturing, there are related jobs, such as installation, project development, land leasing, siting, and staffing. A November 2007 Michigan Now story profiles a manufacturing company which now produces wind power parts. (click here to listen) A recent study by the Land Policy Instituteat Michigan State University said there would be significant job growth in wind energy if the state requires a percentage of energy to come from renewable sources. Read, watch and listen to presentations at a 2007 Wind Energy symposium by the Land Policy Institute.  New job opportunities will largely depend on whether the state passes a renewable portfolio standard, as 26 other states have. An RPS requires a certain percentage of energy to come from renewable sources. The Michigan legislature is considering requiring 10 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2015, with additional percentages added later. If that becomes law, Radomski said, 70 percent of that 10 percent is expected to come from wind. That could mean up to 1,500 turbines being manufactured, each one with 8,000 components. “That’s great potential for jobs in manufacturing,” he said. Tom Stanton, coordinator for the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Renewable Energy Program, said one important issue which needs to be addressed is the transmission of electricity the wind turbines will generate. Transmission of energy overall continues to be “a moving and evolving target,” Stanton said. Read about the U.S. Senate discussing transmitting electricity from alternative energy sources. Other concerns in Michigan are what needs to be built, where do the facilities need to be built and who’s going to pay for them. Representatives from the state and other organizations are discussing these issues, he noted. [edit] Renewable Portfolio Standards
[edit] Offshore Wind Power#Table of Contents
[edit] Wind power land use guidelinesWhen a business or landowner is interested in wind power, there are a number of steps which must be addressed.Perhaps first and foremost is to consider land use guidelines and zoning, which is determined by local communities. According to a document issued by the Michigan State University’s Extention office, rules are often unclear and few towns have established wind system siting laws. The Michigan Land Use Guidelines for Siting Wind Energy Systems is available here. Michael Klepinger, an extension specialist at Michigan State University and a consultant with Mikinetics Consulting, wrote the report. He said he included the many issues which are raised when communities or individuals look into wind power. He also included background studies and the leading research reports on the many issues, which range from setbacks to sound and what opponents and proponents say about wind power. Eric Shreffler, manager for new markets at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said where the wind turbines are situated is important. “We have to be careful how we site and spec these out.” He said the approach should not be aggressive and haphazard, but carefully planned. [edit] Michigan Wind Energy Manufacturing Working GroupA non-profit group of organizations is spearheading the effort to connect Michigan manufacturers with opportunities in the growing area of wind power.The Michigan Wind Energy Manufacturing Working group includes the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Public Service, Michigan State Energy Office, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and Western State University. Dan Radomski, co-chair of the group, is also vice president of industry for NextEnergy, a Detroit-based organization which educates and connects businesses with renewable energy. “When you do your homework and look at the facts, you realize wind is on par or better in the life cycle,” regarding other energy sources, Radomski said. There is a great opportunity for manufacturing companies to utilize the growth in wind power, he said. The working group has both connected companies with wind power manufacturing opportunities and provided information to others. Countries such as Denmark and Germany already get about 20 percent of their energy from wind. “It’s not out of the question that we could get up to 20 percent of our energy coming from wind,” Radomski said. Tom Stanton, coordinator of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Renewable Energy Program, said the wind power has “a lot of potential for growth in Michigan between now and the future.” Eric Shreffler, manager for new markets at the MEDC, said there’s more than a two year wait between ordering and delivering wind turbines and this provides a great manufacturing opportunity in Michigan. “There’s a big opportunity in the wind areas to ease the bottlenecks,” he said. This can be done as some manufacturers shift from traditional jobs to those related to wind power. “We’re trying to make a good solid case that Michigan (can be) a main supplier for renewable energy,” Shreffler said. [edit] Great Lakes Wind Collaborative The Great Lakes Commission has established a collaborative to address the development of wind energy resources in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative offers a work planwith near-term and long-term goals based on the American Wind Energy Association/U.S. Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory "20% Wind Energy by 2030” report. The work plan is an initiative to open a dialogue for discussion on wind energy issues and priorities. The Great Lakes Commission, a binational agency promoting integrated and comprehensive development, use and conservation of the water and related natural resources of the Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River, developed the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative with a four-tier membership structure that includes wind stakeholders, an advisory committee, a steering committee and also issue-specific workgroups that will be assembled on an as-needed basis to focus on particular GLWC priorities for a specified period of time. The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative offers monthly updates on their activities that are avalable via their Web site. The updates are also available through an e-mail listserv. [edit] Effects on Wildlife
[edit] Wildlife Overview    
[edit] Declining BirdsMost scientists and environmentalists agree that the number of birds being killed by turbines is enough cause for concern. No one wants to see birds killed and suffer needlessly. The fact that bird populations of many species are in steady decline around the country makes turbine moralities even more alarming. The Audubon Society reported in 2007 that even some common song birds -- those we're familiar with from our bird feeders -- are in a steady decline [3]. Each year, the Audubon conducts a nation-wide bird count, the Christmas Bird Count [4] and the USGS conducts a Breeding Bird Survey [5]. The analysis of decades of data has indicated that many birds, around the country, are in decline. The causes of these declines are numerous: urban sprawl, logging in North American and Central America where many birds winter, forest fragmentation, pollution. No single cause can be singled out. Deaths caused by wind farms, however, are another blow to already unhealthy populations. [edit] What Kills Birds?Bird corpses have been found underneath wind turbines around the country. But how many are killed but turbines overall, and what else kills birds? The US Fish and Wildlife has compiled statistics on the major threats to migratory birds in the USA. The FWS estimates that between 10 and 20 million birds are in the USA during the summer and winter, when migrants are present. They estimate that over 1 billions birds die every year from human-related causes. Additional birds die from natural causes, such as starvation and being eaten by predators.
[edit] Hawk WatchesMost birds migrate at night, so it is very difficult to know exactly when, where, and in what numbers they are migration. Hawks, eagles, and other raptors, however, migrate during the day. Groups of raptors tend to follow established routes, like tourist motoring up a highway on vacation. These routes are where wind conditions are ideal for fast and efficient movement -- and often for wind farms. The Great Lakes Hawk Watches page of the Great Lakes Wiki shows the locations of hawk watches around the region. That hawks migrate in high densities across the region. Turbines placed in this regions need to take special measures to not cause deaths -- or perhaps should not be located near them at all. [edit] Bats[edit] “When Blade Meets Bat”Most researchers concerned about wind farms have been focusing on our feathered friends, the birds. Evidence is accumulating that bats may even be more susceptible to having run ins with turbines. This spring, scientists carrying out research at Judith Gap, Montana’s largest wind farm were surprised at the number of bat deaths at one site studied, Judith Gap. Birds may be “in the clear” reports New West.net, but bats may be in for a trouble. Concerns over the endangered Indiana Bat prompted Iberdrola Renewables to suspend development of its Horse Creek Wind Farm in upstate New York. The US Fish and Wildlife had previously encouraged the company to relocate its planned wind farm [6], and as of June 2008, the company had decided to assess what its options are.  Not far from the Iderdrola Renewables site at FPL Energy's 44-turbine Mountaineer Wind Energy Center on Backbone Mountain in West Virginia, researches from Duke University an other organizations collected almost 400 dead bats of various species from August to October during the fall migration. An additional 262 dead bats were found at the Meyersdale Wind Energy Center from August 2 through September 13, 2004. The data from these studies and others are summarized at Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy.org and the Duke project site in Table 3. This high level of mortality concerns scientists because these are just the bats that have been found. Other bats could have been injured and died out of site or outside the study area. Albert Manville of the US Fish and Wildlife Service is quotes in Scientific American’ Article When Blade Meets Bat “we may be finding only a small percentage of what's been killed." Manville notes that scavengers that eat carrion could also find the dead bats before researchers do. This gained additional national attention in 2004 with an article in the Washington Post titled Researchers Alarmed by Bat Deaths From Wind Turbines. The organization leading the research on bat and turbines is Bat Conservation International. They formed the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative in 2003 The BWEC includes the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (NREL).
[edit] Fish  Wind farms are not only a threat to birds and bats. Fish and other aquatic organisms could also suffer. Off-short wind power development is a big trend, especially along ocean shores [7]. It is also being considered for the Great Lakes  Offshore turbines can harm sea birds or birds that migrate over bodies of water, though some studies indicate that birds can avoid the turbines[8]. There are also concerns that fish and turtles could be disturbed by the turbines, especially during construction. Fishermen in England have held protests over planned wind farms, fearing that the farms will bock their access to prime fishing ground [9] Wind farms could also cause problems if located on land but near sawmps. Rwsearch by the Army Corps of Engineers has indicated that wind turbines near wetlands could harm fish species that breed in the marshes [10] The Danish government conducted a comprehensive study and has decided that there is minimal risk to birds, fish and seals at their offshore turbine farms. [11]. They plan to dramatically increase the number of off-shore wind farms. Developers in the Great Lakes believe that danger to fish during construction will be minimal Great Lakes. There is also evidence that turbines could actually help fish but providing them protective structure and helping to form artificial reefs [12] [edit] Preventing Collisions
Recent research by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as reported at argusleader.com, may help prevent collisions with wind turbines also. A recent study is evaluating whether colored markers on power lines in the Midwest helped prevented collisions. Scientists collected dead birds from beneath the power lines to determine if the markers made a difference. The data is still being analyzed, but scientists are hopeful that the markers helped, and that they can be applied to turbines also. The biggest issues with turbines are usually their location, design, and height. Many bird species follow regular migration routes, and certain habitats are frequented by migrants that are refueling between legs of journey. Studying bird migrations and avoiding these locations is the first step to decreasing bird mortality. It is also important to know where important bat nesting sights are in a region and avoid building near them. Concerns over a nearby colony of the endangered Indiana Bat prompted Iberdrola Renewables to suspend development of its Horse Creek Wind Farm in upstate New York.
Duke University has posted a list of suggestions for locating and maintaining wind farms and turbine [15]. They emphasize understanding migration patterns before creating farms, and then maintaining them in a way to keep birds away. This included clearing brush from under them where raptors may hunt and clearing buffer strips to keep forest birds away. Farms should also be located within the country side in a manner so that buffer strips and access roads don't cut the forest into small fragments. [edit] Environmentalists RespondAlmost all Michigan environmental organizations actively promote and advocate for renewable energy development in the State, including the Michigan Environmental Council, The Michigan Sierra Club, and The Ecology Center of Ann Arbor.
Audubon, however, is the only environmental organization actively raising attention to this issue. The Michigan chapter of the Nature Conservancy has not issued a statement about wind power but does support its use. They did not respond to requests for information on their position as of July 11, 2008. They do promote bird conservation and information for landowners to improve and create habitat for birds. [16]
[edit] Scientific StudiesThis section will introduce the different wildlife research projects being carried out around the country and their relevance to wind power in the Great Lakes area. #Introduction to Scientific Studies Very few scientific studies have been conducted on the effects of wind power on wildlife in the USA. Most of the studies that exist have been conducted or funded by firms that invest in wind power and published outside of academic circles. There have been no wildlife studies in Michigan yet. Many studies has also been carried out by federal and state wildlife managers. These studies often stay off the rader, however, because they are not published in the scientific journals. The only independent research groups that are pursuing rigorous, long-term research into the effects of wind turbines on birds and bats are The National Aviary and the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative. Dr. Todd Katzner from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and Trish Miller from Pennsylvania State University are conducting a long-term study of wind power and golden eagles. They are monitoring the migration patterns of eagles with radio transmitter, and their preliminary data indicate that eagles do use ares prime for wind power development in Appalachia. Golden eagles occur throughout the Great Lakes, and this research could provide an outline for understanding the relationship between other raptors species and wind power. More information about their project is in the #Golden Eagles section. The organization leading the research on bats and turbines is Bat Conservation International. They formed the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative in 2003. The Cooperative includes the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (NREL). For more information, see the #Bats section and #Conclusions from Bat Studies. More research is being conducted in Europe. For a full list of government and academic publications related to birds, bats, and wind turbines, see the Wildlife and Wind Bibliography page of the wiki. University researchers, including undergraduates, at Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke are collaborating with the BWEC. Unfortunately, there are no professors or graduate student actively pursing this angle of research.
[edit] Conclusions from Bat StudiesWhile scientists are just beginning to study bats and wind turbines, some trends have already emerged. Greg Johnson of Western Ecosystem Technology, Inc and the BWEC have compiled a set of 15 key bat facts related to wind power. They note that bats have had fatal run-ins with turbines around the world, from the USA to Australia. As noted in the [Scientific Studies], this problem is not well understood. Very few wind farms are innocent, with the biggest killers axing up to 50 bats per turbine per year. These are, as noted above, the bats that are found. More be hidden or drug off by scavengers. Turbines near forest or along ridges, where they are often located in Appalachia, are the deadliest killers. There may be important differences between wind farms in the open habitats of the mid-west and forest habitats in Appalachia and the upper Midwest. Proponents of windpower should therefore not apply data from studies conducted in open habitats to wind farms proposed in forested areas. Two of the nine Michigan bats, the Hoary, and silver-haired bats are among those killed most frequently at some wind farms. Bat deaths at turbines are somewhat of a mystery, since they seem to rarely strike other types of towers or wind turbines that are not in motion. Warning lights don’t seem to help prevent collisions. Bat deaths are of special concern because female bats normally have only a few babies every year, but do so for many years. Killing a female bat also kills off all of her future children. This is in contrast to birds, which are mostly short lived and have multiple offspring in a year.  [edit] Scientific StudiesThought data on bats is limited, some important trends have already emerged. Greg Johnson of Western Ecosystem Technology, Inc and the BWEC have compiled a set of [http://www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?idPage=55&idSubPage=32 15 key bat facts] related to wind power. They note that bats have had fatal run-ins with turbines around the world, from the USA to Australia. As noted in the [Scientific Studies], this problem is not well understood. Very few wind farms are innocent, with the biggest killers axing up to 50 bats per turbine per year. These are, as noted above, the bats that are found. More be hidden or dragged off by scavengers. Turbines near forest or along ridges, where they are often located in Appalachia, are the deadliest killers. There may be important differences between wind farms in the open habitats of the mid-west and forest habitats in Appalachia and the upper Midwest. Proponents of wind power should therefore not apply data from studies conducted in open habitats to wind farms proposed in forested areas. Two of the nine Michigan bats, the [Hoary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoary_bat], and silver-haired bats are among those killed most frequently at some wind farms. Bat deaths at turbines are somewhat of a mystery, since they seem to rarely strike other types of towers or wind turbines that are not in motion. Warning lights don’t seem to help prevent collisions. Bat deaths are of special concern because female bats normally have only a few babies every year, but do so for many years. Killing a female bat also kills off all of her future children. This is in contrast to birds, which are mostly short lived and have multiple offspring in a year. [edit] Michigan ResearchersMichigan is blessed with a top-notch system of universities and colleges. Unfortunately, no researchers as the MSU Department of Fish and Wildlife or the University of Michigan are currently studying wind power. Other Michigan researchers are exploring other aspects of wind power, especially the engineering of turbines. Dr. Duncan Callaway at U of M studies power management from wind power. Researchers at the University of Michigan Memorial Phoneix Energy Institute study all aspects of renewable energy, including wind. The engineering program at U of M will pursue an interdisciplinary approach to wind power research, investigating aerodynamics and construction materials to improve efficiency. [edit] Golden Eagles  Golden Eagles are a relative of Bald Eagles found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They are relatively common in the western USA but much rarer in the east. Each year, they migrate from Central America north along the Appalachian mountains into Canada to breed. Like all migrating raptors, they typically fly along ridge lines where air currents are the fastest. Unfortunately, some of the best sites for wind turbines are also raptor migration routes.
</b>Trish Miller from Pennsylvania State University and Dr. Katzner from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh have put radio transmitters on several Golden Eagles and are mapping their migration routes. This requires the eagles in nets and fitting them with a long-range GPS transmitter.
[edit] Lawsuits Some environmental and citizens groups have been so concerned about the danger of wind turbines for wildlife that they have threatened lawsuits. In May the Charleston Gazette reported that eleven different groups from West Virginia and Maryland issued notice that they would be suing the developers of the NedPower Mount Storm project near the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area [18]. The groups are worried that the project would result in high levels of animal mortality similar to FPL’s Mountaineer Wind Project. While previous consultants have said that the project would not harm birds significantly [19], recent work has indicated otherwise [20]. FLP also developed a 20-turbine project in Meyersdale, Pa [21]. Citizen groups were alarmed by the results from the Mountaineer study and threatened to sue FLP .[22]. Some citizens criticize the overall sustainability of the project and accuse FLP of developing the site “without adequate environmental impact studies” [23]. In 2004 Scientific American reported that prior to the project, Penn State biologist Michael Gannon surveyed the area informed FLP that a one to two year study of bats should be conducted before the project should be startedhttp://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=when-blade-meets-bat]. Past lawsuits have not always been successful. The Renewable Energy Law Blog reported that a lawsuit over bird deaths caused by one of the nation’s largest wind farms, at Altamant Pass in CA [24], was dismissed by judges in 2004 [25]. The Center for Biodiversity, a world-renowned non-profit, had filed the suit. Other lawsuits have been filed for other reasons, such people concerned over the large shadows cast by turbines [26]. There has to be a landmark suit that substantially changes how wind project are implemented. [edit] Prairie BirdsThe birds of open spaces, native grasslands and tall grass prairie may be especially sensitive to wind power development. The Kansas Department of Fish and Wildlife highlights the sensitivity of prairie habitats to wind power development. Wind power has been promoted as a non-intrusive form of development that could be used in conjunction with other land uses. Locating wind farms on prairies, however, “appears likely to cause avoidance or complete abandonment of otherwise suitable habitats by some grassland birds.” This is unfortunate, because many prairies have high wind power potential in Kansas and other states. The KDFW is also concerned that turbines could act as barriers to the movements of some birds. While most wind power studies have looked at birds colliding during migration, turbines and access roads could also cut up habitat used during breeding or for find food during the winter. If bird avoid turbines because of the noise or other disturbances, there will be a an invisible wall created around the turbine that could prevent birds from find mates or food. Many prairie species, such as the Greater Prairie Chicken once found in Michigan, are especially known to be sensitive to changes in their habitat and habitat fragmentation. The Kansas Renewable Energy Working Group recommends that wildlife considerations be considered early in all wind project planning and that large-scale effects across the landscape and countryside around turbines be considered. Guidelines PDF by the Fish and Wildlife Service recommend explicitly avoiding raptor migration pathways and maintaining connected habitats for species such as sage grouse. Plans have been made in some states to build turbines on areas otherwise set aside for wildlife, such as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in Kansas. In the spring of 2008, however, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously to not develop WMAs for wind power [27]. [edit] ConferencesAs energy prices rise, wind power is becoming more and more of an option for power generators and consumers. The evidence that turbines can harm wildlife, however, cannot be denied. Responding to this tension and the demands it places on wildlife managers, power companies, and prospective "wind farmers" leasing out their land, several organizations are planning workshops or conferences with year to explore these issues. Concerns in Texas over wind development are significant enough that the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Wildlife Association will be hosting the Wind and Wildlife Conference on Aug. 8 and 9 of 2008 in Amarillo, TX. The workshop will look at birds, bats, habitat issues, and also how turbines will effect land value. The program will include sessions specifically on the greater prairie chicken, wetlands, and land value. More coverage of the conferences is posted on the Agricon Energy blog. On October 27-29, 2008, the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VII will be held in Milwaukee, WI. The meeting will begin with a day of “Wind and Wildlife 101”, followed by two days of reports on the most recent research. The meeting will be an opportunity for researchers, stakeholders, and the general public to learn about the most recent studies and also examine methods for preventing or minimizing problems with wildlife. Earlier this year, the Bats & Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) held a meeting in Austin, TX. The meeting focused on the currents state of scientists’ knowledge of bat-wind power problems and what gaps in their knowledge need to be examined. The Proceedings of the meeting provide details on what was discussed.
[edit] School
[edit] Western Michigan UniversityDr. John Patten may be the director of Western Michigan’s University’s Center for Manufacturing Research but he’s been receiving a lot attention for what he refers to as an appliance on a pole. In September 2007, Patten personally donated a forty foot direct-grid-connected wind turbine for installation at Western Michigan University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The wind turbine became the first one installed in the Kalamazoo area and one of only a few in the region. Though Patten didn’t write a personal check for the turbine, he did use personal funds from his indirect cost account at WMU, which is left over money from his grant funded research. Patten has been involved in the renewable energy movement since it began decades ago. With the generous gift he fulfilled a long time personal goal to demonstrate that at the end of the day he’d actually done something. “I am generating clean green electricity from the wind turbine,” Patten said.   
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