Consumers Energy to begin 105MW Michigan project

UNITED STATES: Consumers Energy announced plans to start construction of a $255 million 105MW wind power project in Michigan, later this year.

by Ben Miller 11 September 2013

The GE 1.7 is an upgrade of the existing GE 1.6MW machine

The utility signed a contract with US construction firm Barton Malow for the design, engineering and construction of the Cross Winds Energy Park, which lies 90 miles north-west of Detroit.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, has a contract with GE to supply 62 1.7MW wind turbines for the project.

The contract is subject to approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Cross Winds is Consumers' second wind farm, and is due to start operating in 2014, with the 100MW Lake Winds Energy Park, also in Michigan, due to come online in November.

GE used AWEA “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç 2013 to launch its 1.7MW turbine, an optimised version of the 1.6MW 1.6-100 model introduced in 2010.

It incorporates electrical system upgrades and industrial internet capabilities such as data-handling and networking capability.