Wind turbines proposed for National Forest
If a subsidiary of BP gets its way, residents of Grant Township will see a "greener" National Forest in a couple years.
White Pines Wind Farm, a subsidiary of BP Alternative Energy, has applied for a special land use permit with the U.S. Forest Service to place 20-28 wind turbines, each 420 feet tall, in the forest north of Forest Trail. The road leads from U.S. 31 to the Lake Michigan Recreation Area.
Huron-Manistee National Forest spokesman Ken Arbogast said the number of wind turbines depends upon further investigation by the company and the forest services.
"Basically it will depend on how many they need to make the project economically viable," Arbogast said. "Depending upon the final proposal, there might be one or two south of (Forest Trail)."
Arbogast said the turbines would not be right on the waterfront, but would certainly be visible from Lake Michigan.
Stephen Pulich, a business manager with BP Alternative Energy, said the towers are Clipper C-96 turbines that are 420 feet tall to the tip of the top blade, 262 feet to the hub with 153-foot blades. Each tower could generate 2.5 megawatts of energy for a total of 70 megawatts if 28 are built. Because of transmission constraints, no more than 28 would be built.
Pulich said the National Forest solved a problem with wind energy in Michigan.
Public meetings on the issue:
4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Ramada Inn, Ludington
4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at Days Inn in Manistee