Wind energy blowing into Indiana

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - On a day when people think about "going green," nearly 300 people were thinking about wind power at a conference in Fort Wayne Wednesday.

"Wind energy is the only form of a large scale electricity generator available today that produces electricity in bulk quantities with no emissions," Utility Programs Manager for the American Wind Energy Association Jeff Anthony said.

The Grand Wayne Center hosted the Northeast Indiana Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop. It was an opportunity for manufacturing companies to learn more about producing wind turbines for wind farms.

"We're looking for companies who possibly supported the automotive industry and are now looking for a new industry to get into. The wind energy industry is looking for more components made in this country rather than import them from overseas," Anthony said.

Dick Conrow, owner of C & A Tools in Churubusco, said his company already makes some parts for wind energy.

"This works well for us becuase it folds into what we already do," Conrow said.

Conrow thinks wind energy manufacturing will grow quickly in the United States. And more wind farms popping up in Indiana will help that happen.

Two years ago, Indiana didn't have any wind farms. Now there are several, and more are in the works. Right now they are all in northwest Indiana in Benton and White counties.

Last week there was a ground breaking for Horizon Energy's Meadow Lake Project in White County. Duke Energy has a wind farm in Benton County that opened in 2008 and the Hoosier Wind Farm will also be built in Benton County.

"Indiana's currently the fastest growing state for wind power development in the U.S. The first projects went online last year and another 400 megawatts (MW) this year. We're on track for 800 MW by the end of the year," Anthony said.

Anthony explained one megawatt of wind power will provide electricity for 150 to 200 homes for a year. So, if the state reaches 800 MW, that would be electricity for 120,000 to 160,000 homes.

"We're a big supporter of wind engery. It's part of the answer, but not the whole answer," Vice President for External Relations for Indiana Michigan Power Marc Lewis said.

Indiana Michigan Power is looking into building a wind farm of its own.

"We're looking for a possible location around Muncie, Jay and Randolph County. We're testing the wind there currently," Lewis said.

Doug Ahlfeld help organize the Fort Wayne conference. He said the industry hopes to have 25 to 30 percent of the nation's energy supply coming from wind power within the next ten years.

"There are wind farms that can go up in six months. It takes two and a half years to plan them, but it's still faster than a coal plant," Ahlfeld said.

To the consumer, there's no difference if the electricity was generated from wind, coal or gas.

"However, [wind power] is helping the air they breathe because much fewer emissions are there when the share of wind power increases," Anthony said.

The turbines are installed on farms, but farmers can still use about 98 percent of the land, Anthony said.

"They're planting crops up to the base of the turbine and most farmers appreciate the lease payments too," he said.

The one drawback, Anthony cited, is the changed landscape. What was once a clear horizon of Indiana farms, would now have futuristic-looking windmills spinning in the skyline. 

"But some people like the way they look, so it's in the eye of the beholder," he said.

Wind farms aren't new. They first started in the 1970s in California. Texas now has the most wind power output. So, why is Indiana the fast growing state in the history of the wind energy industry?

"Winds are better than what was thought a few years ago. We're finding very good wind resources that will produce clean energy on a very economic cost basis," Anthony said.

One reason for the newly-found winds is that the turbines can be built higher to tap into those high winds high in the sky. Now the turbines can be 100 meters high, which is just a little shorter than a football field.

With wind farm potential in Indiana looking up, Ahlfeld hopes that will translate to more local manufacturing jobs.

"In the next three to five years, we can look for a turbine manufacturer to locate in this area who can utilize the manufacturing we already have here," he said.

Anthony agreed.

"Green jobs, economic development, and manufacturing revitalization are all things the states are responding to, and this is the future of our economy," Anthony said.