By ALEXANDRIA

BOURNONVILLE

Journal Staff Writer

ISHPEMING — Affectionately nicknamed the Big Egg Beater, Ishpeming’s wind turbine continues to stand unused on Ishpeming Housing Commission property.

Initially installed in 2006 as a prototype, the turbine was meant to power the then- under-construction Pioneer Bluffs development, a senior apartment complex.

In its 14-year history, the turbine has “never produced any electricity to the high rise,” according to Ishpeming Mayor Jason Chapman.

A subsidiary of McKenzie Bay International, the WindStor Power Company designed the 2006 prototype for its 200-kilowatt WindStor vertical-axis turbine.

The housing commission, which owns Pioneer Bluffs, entered into a power purchase agreement — a financial arrangement where a third party installs, owns and operates an energy system on a client’s property. The company and the housing commission agreed to the PPA knowing that WindStor’s turbine was only prototype technology.

Under the PPA, all costs to run and maintain the turbine fall to the company.

The turbine changed hands in 2009, when Clean Green Energy LLC, a company based in downstate Brighton acquired MKBI.

The new owners say they were unaware of the financial problems and disagreements that MKBI had with its initial engineering firm, which is what prevented the wind turbine project in Ishpeming from moving forward. CGE officials said the only way forward was to improve upon the existing turbine.

According to CGE’s chief financial officer, Harold Telners, his company had “re-engineered and completed the turbine” by late 2010.

Telners said “innovative blade lifting techniques that have never been accomplished (before were introduced), and subsequently commenced the testing phase of the installation.”

The turbine “successfully produced energy,” during those tests in 2010, Telners said.

But nothing has happened in over a decade since then. “Changes in technology, market needs and requirements, and in the ownership and management of WPC and MKBY led to unanticipated delays in the rollout of a new system. This is not a ‘problem’ to ‘remedy’ but rather a typical hurdle encountered on the road to rolling out innovative, new technologies.”

On the subject of the idle turbine, Ishpeming City Manager Craig Cugini said the outcome of any changes in energy production has to benefit city residents.

“The City of Ishpeming believes in an all-of-the-above approach to energy, no matter what Lansing tries to dictate to rural communities like ours. Our hope for projects within our city is that they’re functional and deliver promised results to our seniors, veterans and other members of our community who ultimately absorb the cost of rising energy prices.”

Both Chapman and IHC Executive Director Doreen Shelley agree that if the turbine doesn’t begin producing energy soon, it should be taken down.

“Something needs to be done,” Shelley said.

Chapman has renewed concerns about newly enacted state legislation governing green energy.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the package of bills on Nov. 28, mandating 100% clean energy by 2040.

But in order to reach that goal, state government will take away local control of large solar, wind and energy storage projects.

“I fully support finding ways to reduce and eventually eliminate sources of electricity that hurt our environment,” Chapman said. “However, our area still needs a stable, long-term solution, which I haven’t seen yet. Taking away local control isn’t the answer either, unless the state is ready to support our area … I’m worried that enacting laws without solutions could hurt us up here.”

Regardless, Telners’ statement continues to be the same: “The plan has always been to replace the WindStor turbine in Ishpeming with a new design. When a replacement turbine is installed and operational, it will, as planned, supply that power.”

Shelley hopes to host a meeting with the IHC Board of Directors and CGE’s President and CEO Bryan Zaplinty in 2024 to discuss what will happen next.

Alexandria Bournonville can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 506. Her email address is abournonville@miningjournal.net.