Wind Turbines Could Contribute to Renewable Electrical Mandate

MSU issues wind study
Posted on 12/19/2007 1:16:58 PM

Michigan would need to build 1,250 wind turbines on 50,279 acres of wind farm area to meet a state Renewable Portfolio Standard of 10 percent of electricity coming from renwable sources.
That's the result of a new analysis released Wednesday by Michigan State University's Land Policy Institute.

The study projects the number of wind turbines needed, the land footprint they would require, and the likely location of wind turbines in order to meet the requirements of the RPS, proposed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in the Michigan’s 21st Century Electric Energy Plan.

Both houses of the Michigan legislature are currently considering various bills related to RPS.
The study found that only 313 acres of wind tower land footprints would be needed, but the farms would be far bigger. However, 49,966 acres of the wind farm land would be usable for farming, grazing, forestry or related uses.

With a total of 37,361,780 acres of land area in Michigan, the proposed 2015 RPS goal would require use of only 0.14 percent of it.

The fact sheet is part of a wind energy series LPI is releasing to inform the debate on wind energy development in Michigan. The study, titled “Wind Turbines Required to Meet Michigan’s 2015 Goals for Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and Projected Land Footprints” is available at http://www.landpolicy.msu.edu/.