03/24/2006

Energy idea is a-blowin'

NMC hopes to put 90-foot structure at University Center

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY - Northwestern Michigan College officials hope to erect a 91-foot, electricity generating windmill at its University Center campus on the west shore of Boardman Lake.

College trustees OK'd a plan to seek permission from Garfield Township for a project that would attempt to educate students and other community members on alternative energy sources.

The windmill, with an 80-foot tower and three 11-foot blades, would generate about 10 kilowatts of power and likely would be used to light the parking lot at the University Center, said Marguerite Cotto, director of the University Center.

"Of the four potential sites we looked at, it's probably the most compatible in terms of aesthetics and appearance," she said.

Garfield officials probably won't object, though some residents might have questions, township Supervisor Lee Wilson said.

"I'm sure there will be concerns about it when it's something different," he said. "If it's put up right so it blends in with the countryside, it shouldn't be a problem."

Susan Cummins, property manager for Premier Place Condominiums across the lake, agreed.

"I can't imagine it would be that ugly to look at," she said. "If it can help people be more energy efficient, then I would be all for it."

The windmill will be one of six energy technologies covered under $510,000 in grants from the state and $20,000 from Traverse City Light & Power.

The other project components are solar power cells, solar heating of water, geothermal technology involving closed loops that can heat air with above-ground temperature or cool it with below-ground temperature, and biodiesel power using agricultural by-products for fuel additives.

The project also includes a 40-foot wind tower to be placed at the college's Michigan Technical Education Center in the Airport Industrial Park. The park has height restrictions that would not allow the taller tower to be placed there, Cotto said.

"Having two generators at different locations will allow students to do comparative studies of generations at different wind corridors," Cotto said.

All but the taller windmill will be installed at M-TEC.