With the return of warm weather, Consumers Energy has resumed construction of a wind farm in Tuscola County in Michigan's Thumb. Construction began last October and went on hold during the winter months.
The facility is the company's second wind farm. It will include 62 wind turbines.
Brian Wheeler, spokesperson for Consumers Energy, said the facility should produce enough energy for about 60,000 households.
Wheeler said a goal of the wind farm is to diversify Consumer's energy sources. "As we start to incorporate more wind and solar and other energy sources into our portfolio, it balances our approach. We're not dependent on any one particular fuel source," he said.
A 2008 state law requires that by 2015, ten percent of the company's energy must come from renewable sources. Wheeler said with the wind farm, Consumer's Energy will meet that goal. He said the project is expected to be up and running by the end of this year.
Wheeler said about 150 construction jobs will be created by the project. And project costs are expected to total around $250 million.
Virginia Gordan, Michigan Radio Newsroom
