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JEL World Wind Eco-Farm
Site Selection
Michigan’s coastal Wind Resources and Transmission lines are rated good/ excellent by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2004). Michigan has potential capacity of 16,560 mega watts (13th in US) and relatively low existing capacity at 449 mw. Originally the site was located in Lake Huron before learning that most new wind power development in the U.S. has been onshore, due to the higher costs and risks of offshore wind power, along with delays due to opposition to projects such as Cape Wind (Wikipedia) off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As In the Bowling Green case, the World Wind Eco-Farm, if embraced by the local community can become a green attraction and pilot project for the area.

Wind speed; 6.5-7 m/s predicted mean annual wind speeds at 80-m height (U.S. Dept. of Energy).

Ornithology: This site has very few flyways, corridors, or narrow routes but several converging migratory routes as does much of the Great lakes area per the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (USGS)

Ecology: Although a coastal area, this site is inland and agricultural in character minimizing the ecological impacts.

Noise: Vicinity consists of agricultural and limited residential areas within a one mile radius.

Shadow Flicker: Very few residents in shadow zones especially in the east/ west impact zone.

Electro-Magnetic interference: Negligible

Access: 11 miles to major shipping at Port Huron and 2.5 miles to State Highway 25.

Aeronautical and Military: No airports or military installations in vicinity.

Landscape and Visual: Scenic Highway area through farmland and proximity to coastline may be an issue of opposition. Immediate vicinity has no major resort areas or parks and limited costal homes.