by DAN VOS
Vos Energy Concepts
Dan Vos
I said earlier that wind was a form of solar energy, and I stand by that. Reread my past column if you need an explanation. The most economical way of capturing the wind for producing electricity is by using large towers with huge blades—as many as possible—called wind farms.
They are being used throughout the world as a very dependable source of electricity. They work very well if placed in an area where the wind is pretty much constant.
Michigan has areas that will work very well, yet people seem to be afraid of them. It can’t be the size, because no one is afraid of cell towers. It can’t be the looks, because… those cell phone towers again—those things are ugly. So what is it? Maybe it’s change.
Northeastern Michigan is embracing this change. The thumb area has many wind farms and the energy is sold as fast as these farms go online. I’m not going to get into the idea of putting them in Lake Michigan. I’m just saying I have mixed feelings.
I happen to think wind generators are beautiful—kinetic art even—maybe because I’m so Dutch and windmills are a part of my heritage. They work very well and will help us use less conventional energy.
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