[merit1sje]

A woman who lives in Moran Township in St. Ignace, Mich. has installed a wind turbine on her property. The woman who lives on Pte. La Barbe Rd. installed a verticle axis wind turbine called the Windspire. The first of its kind in the UP. If a single individual can start to make a difference, imagine what all of us could do together?

Instead of having the MPSC decide if they should spend more of my money and yours on Consumers Energy and DTE(and you should SEE how much we pay for), how about the MPSC give out rebates to the people of Michigan, toward the installation of a renewable energy resource?

The people of this state should be getting more from our energy suppliers. We are an easy revenue resourse. As with Consumers defense of their $10 hike in utility bills next year to recoup costs due to unpaid customer bill's, we should counter with the fact that we have no other competing source for services! Why is that?

The people of this state should ban together as a consortium! In an organized manner and with money from the people, the people of this state could effectively control those industries that control their lives. An exciting proposition indeed!

It only takes one person to start something. Like the woman in the UP.

[Bhaalspawn]

Vertical axis windmill--interesting idea. Not sure why I've never thought of that before. It does seem like a design that might be more efficient than a traditional horizontal axis. I suppose that power generation could be increased by raising the height and thus area of the fins.

[Newtgirl]

It is also less a hazard to wildlife.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by merit1sje

A woman who lives in Moran Township in St. Ignace, Mich. has installed a wind turbine on her property. The woman who lives on Pte. La Barbe Rd. installed a verticle axis wind turbine called the Windspire. The first of its kind in the UP. If a single individual can start to make a difference, imagine what all of us could do together?

Instead of having the MPSC decide if they should spend more of my money and yours on Consumers Energy and DTE(and you should SEE how much we pay for), how about the MPSC give out rebates to the people of Michigan, toward the installation of a renewable energy resource?

The people of this state should be getting more from our energy suppliers. We are an easy revenue resourse. As with Consumers defense of their $10 hike in utility bills next year to recoup costs due to unpaid customer bill's, we should counter with the fact that we have no other competing source for services! Why is that?

The people of this state should ban together as a consortium! In an organized manner and with money from the people, the people of this state could effectively control those industries that control their lives. An exciting proposition indeed!

It only takes one person to start something. Like the woman in the UP.

I've seen those vertical axis wind turbines in person. They're pretty cool. Cascade Engineering in West Michigan makes a small wind turbine that can be used for small businesses or homeowners.

http://www.landscapeonline.com/resea...mg/16122-1.jpg
http://www.swiftwindturbine.com/?r=1

For those interested in alternative energy, Consumers Energy is moving toward installing system wide "net metering", which gives homeowners a much more accurate reading of household energy use (peaks and troughs too), and increases the ability of homeowners to sell any energy they produce as surplus back into the grid.

Consumers Energy Web Site

The biggest hurdle to household wind generation right now seems to be zoning ordinances and homeowners associations. If you live in the country, it's probably not a problem. But if you live in a neighborhood like most people, it's an uphill battle (although the tides seems to be turning).

[michmoldman]

The wind thing is huge guys! If we could all get an affordable turbine on our house like those old antenna (much less dangerous on the house), maybe covered with screen to protect from weather and sticks or whatever, also to protect wildlife, I believe we could save a ton of money each month. This would be a huge savings on electricity each month and put more money in our pockets to put into the economy. Once it gets going, I'm sure the technology will eventually get better and better and maybe eliminate the money that goes to those monthly bills. The possibilities are endless. Eventually you could even have some type of channeling system for when it is not so windy, or even better when it is windy, kinda the same idea as standing between 2 buildings, that type of wind channeling.
Imagine all the money that once went to bills, would now be put back in the economy!
We need to act on this now to become the world leader in this technology. Every home and business in the world will need one! wow!!

[Dwatted Wabbit]

Popular Mechanics, I believe, wrote up Jay Leno's Garage a few years back when he was installing vertical axis windmills.
Leno's garage is a bit larger than mine or yours.

That's one of the first things I'd do when building my monolithic dome.

Monolithic Dome Institute

[Giesela]

I'm glad to see more choices for residential applications and more encouragement for people to consider using them whether its wind or solar or something else down the road.
Of course you do realize that it has to be windy enough to generate enough electricity to make it worthwhile? No point in having 15 windmills if they only generate enough electricity to power a lightbulb half a day - making them uses energy too plus maintenance.
Think of the neighbor who goes out and buys a solar light kit for his garage/driveway. Problem is his lot is all shade and the dang thing doesn't work. Into the trash.
So not everyone can use wind. Or solar. But everyone can do something.

General information
Small Wind in Michigan (http://www.awea.org/smallwind/michigan.html - broken link)

Wind map for Michigan

Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States

[michmoldman]

Seems windy all the time in the summer....or at least every time I want to go fishing.

[walls]

renewable energy is an OK idea,...windmills are not, aside from just plain ugly there are many other reasons. Nuke is the way to go, it is the best, but unfortunately the enviro terrorists control all thought process's today, hence, we shall use 15th century science. Just wait until they get control of the agri biz.......... famine for everybody....HOORAY!

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by walls

renewable energy is an OK idea,...windmills are not, aside from just plain ugly there are many other reasons. Nuke is the way to go, it is the best, but unfortunately the enviro terrorists control all thought process's today, hence, we shall use 15th century science. Just wait until they get control of the agri biz.......... famine for everybody....HOORAY!

I agree with nuclear.