Great Lakes Wind Turbines Pose Formidable Risks, Enticing Rewards

Wind advocates say offshore wind turbines would be an efficient means of producing power, as they can make about twice as much energy as onshore. Opponents fear the windmills would harm the lakes' natural beauty and hurt tourism and fishing.

"'I'll fight this every way I can,' said Algoma [Wisconsin] Alderman Ken Taylor, chairman of the city's marina committee. 'The beautiful view we have would be destroyed...How many are going to come here if we have these things off our coastline?'"

"The rows of windmills would tower as high as 400 feet and float or stand in relatively shallow water.

Winds over water are generally stronger, less turbulent and more consistent than those on land, said Walt Musial, senior engineer and offshore programs leader for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy contractor.

But the idea has been slow to catch on around the Great Lakes. Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin regulators said they have yet to be approached by any energy companies with proposals for offshore windmills in the Great Lakes."
from embracing them.''