To cross from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the rest of the state one must navigate the windy Mackinac Straits. Mackinaw City, on the other side, has learned to make the most of those constant strong winds to generate electricity.
Recently, two of five planned wind turbines came online as part of a $1.9 million project that will eventually produce enough power to supply 700 homes each year and provide more than one-third of the city's energy. In addition to being located on the city's sewage treatment property, by the end of the year, the turbines will generate power to the sewage treatment plant as well.
During the first four days of operation, the two 320-foot turbines produced 60,000 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power 10 homes for a year.
—Kathy Cobb
