Text Box: Introduction: Wind energy development companies eye Michigan as a potentially important place to develop as part of the alternative energy market. In conjunction with state policy favorable to wind energy development, such as the passage of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), a clear understanding of the best areas for wind development is vital. LPI has taken a first step in helping the wind energy industry identify suitable areas for development by developing a prototype Wind Prospecting Tool. This Tool will provide Michigan an easily understood, integrated framework that can: Filter out areas of low potential for wind energy development. Focus efforts of stakeholders on high quality areas, and provide critical analysis of local and state policy gaps that could turn high quality areas into Wind Development Ready communities where local interest and support is strong. Target statewide incentive policy and the wind development community investment toward those areas that are most conducive for wind energy development. Provide a clear benchmark of community wind development potential, and pathways to attracting investment. Text Box: The Michigan Wind Prospecting Tool 50m Density Map Michigan

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Tool Components:

           The Wind Prospecting Tool (WPT) will be divided into two segments, first an analysis and interactive map tool to find and highlight the best areas in Michigan for utility scale wind farm development. This will showcase from the perspective of large scale development, the largest and most commercially viable areas in the state. Second, a separate tool will be developed targeted at community wind development potential, and produce a community wind profile for each community with wind resources in Michigan. This tool is an initial step in informing the wind development process, and bringing stakeholders accurate reliable, and timely information.  A third tool, which is a future project, will closely examine off-shore targets for wind deployment.
           The fundamental base of this analysis is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s 50m wind density map for Michigan (see figure one). This is the best available data in wind resources in Michigan.

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Click Here for the WPT Preliminary Summary