Harnessing energy from the wind is one clean and efficient way to generate power. Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc. (Wolverine), a generation and transmission electric cooperative in Cadillac, Michigan, recently increased its renewable energy portfolio by signing a 20-year Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) with Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) for 114 megawatts of wind energy.
Known as the Deerfield Wind Energy Project, this development will be located on 20,000 acres in Huron County, in the Thumb of the Lower Peninsula. Wolverine will receive the entire output of the 114 MW project, expected to be approximately 400,000 megawatt hours annually.
“Wolverine is very pleased to be adding competitively priced wind energy to its power supply portfolio for its members,” said Eric Baker, President and CEO of Wolverine. “This PPA not only further diversifies Wolverine’s overall energy portfolio, it also positions Wolverine and its members to meet Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirement of 10 percent renewable power supply by 2015.”
In 2008, Michigan passed a law establishing the RPS, requiring Michigan electric providers to attain a retail supply portfolio that includes at least 10 percent renewable energy by 2015. With the addition of wind energy from the Deerfield Wind Energy Project, Wolverine more than meets this requirement.
RES Americas is a leader in the development, engineering, and construction of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects in North America. They will be constructing and operating the project which will provide up to 200 jobs during peak construction and up to six permanent jobs at the completion of the project.
That is great news about getting some of our electric power from the wind. This should have been done some time ago.
Enough of an editorial about wind power. Any up-dates on our solar power project at HQ? How is it doing? Generating power along projected lines?
Best regards,
Ken Ward
Lake Ann
Hi Ken, the SUN alliance project at Cherryland’s headquarters is fully subscribed. All 224 panels have been “leased” since last April. The project was estimated to produce approximately 67,200 kWh/year. In 2014, it produced 51,005 kWh. That is due largely to weather. You can view all of the output and check in on the project here.
Can you provide the state and federal subsidies paid from taxes that this project will realize.
Hi Hank, as the purchaser of the energy from this project, Wolverine is not eligible for state or federal subsidies. They are simply agreeing to pay an agreed upon price for the electricity the wind farm produces. Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES) will build, own, and operate the wind farm. As the investor and owner, they are eligible for any federal and state tax credits or subsidies that are available. We can’t speak for the, but they probably did qualify for the production tax credit as most projects like this do.