Is anything made in America anymore? The answer is a resouding "yes" in Saginaw, Michigan, part of an auto state hit hard in a crummy economy. Outgoing Gov. Jennifer Granholm has just delivered some big farewell news: The state has attracted its first large wind turbine assembly plant. What's more, the North Power Systems facility is expected to manufacture the first turbines built in the U.S. with American-made parts.
Granholm and incoming governor Rick Snyder have been touting the state's manufacturing base as ripe for use in the alternative energy sector. It's been coming slowly up to this point. A previous state report showed that more than 2,500 green jobs were added to Michigan's economy from 2005 to 2008, while Michigan unemployment was the highest in the nation. Does this latest boost put Michigan over the hump? Probably not, but leaders here say they'll keep climbing.
The new Saginaw plant, to be housed in an existing facility, will provide more opportunities for about 100 wind turbine part makers in Michigan, many who have already transitioned from making auto parts, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Michigan-made, utility-scale turbines are expected to be sold in part to help the state meet a 10 percent by 2015 renewable portfolio standard (and maybe move beyond it). Wind farms are being planned and erected here by major utilities including DTE Energy and Consumers Energy.
Granholm says Michigan also could help supply offshore turbines. So far, plans for turbines in the Great Lakes have met with some resistance. But then again, so have some plans for onshore turbines.
For now, Granholm says more than 100 new jobs will come from the Northern Power wind manufacturing plant. It's a start.
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