LANSING ? Michigan was among the top 10 states for wind power capacity additions and growth rate in 2012, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s annual market study reported Friday.
The study, reported by MLive.Com, said Michigan added 611 megawatts of wind energy capacity in 2012 for a cumulative total of 988 megawatts, ranking it 16th overall for total capacity. The Michigan Public Service Commission reported about 815 megawatts in utility-scale wind farms became commercially operational in 2012, for a total of 978 megawatts from 14 operating wind farms.
The discrepancies in the two reports likely hinge on when the AWEA and MPSC counted wind farms as coming online and other data collection issues, said MPSC spokeswoman Judy Palnau.
Either way, Michigan still installed more wind capacity last year than most other states, and more wind farms have been announced or are under development.
Most utilities are on track to meet the state-mandated goal of deriving 10 percent of their annual electric retail sales from renewable sources by 2015.
The state is in the process of conducting a one-year study on Michigan’s renewable energy needs. Gov. Rick Snyder called for several public forums to discuss the issue after voters rejected a constitutional amendment to require Michigan utilities to derive at least 25 percent of their annual electric retail sales from clean renewable sources by 2025.
Michigan should still be adding more wind power even if the renewable energy standard doesn’t increase, said Liz Salerno, director of industry data and analysis for AWEA.
Salerno said other states that have surpassed their renewable standards or don’t have them are still adding wind capacity. Taller towers and longer blades allow turbines to better access wind resources, which is opening up opportunities in places like Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, she said.
