Welcome to the MSU Extension Wind Energy Home Page!

MSU Extension is working with landowners in Michigan to explore their options for wind energy. The State Energy Office of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Energy are sponsoring this effort to encourage more on-farm wind energy in the state. Michigan lags far behind other Midwestern states in exploring this viable renewable resource. MSU Extension's goal is to provide landowners with information through workshops, this website and on-farm consultations to provide them with a good basis for deciding whether to include wind energy as part of their operations.

Wind energy depends heavily on geography. Follow the link to the Michigan Wind Maps above to see where your area ranks in terms of wind power. Depending on how hard the wind blows, several options are available for wind power in Michigan. Landowners with at least a one-acre parcel and 10 mph winds might consider a small wind turbine to offset energy costs. Those with much larger land parcels in areas where the wind blows at least 14 mph might have the option to lease land to a wind developer. In other states, farmers have formed cooperatives to install utility-scale wind turbines, which may be another option for Michigan farmers.

Increasing the amount of wind energy can reduce our dependence on imported fuels and slow the growth rate of carbon dioxide and other emissions into the air. We invite you to browse this page and get in touch the regional contact person covering your area for more information. Your regional contact is a member of the MSU Extension Farm Management (FIRM) team. Click on "regional contacts" below to get names, addresses, and coverage areas for the FIRM team.

 

This site was made possible through a grant from the Energy Office of Michigan, Department of Labor and Economic Growth