The state of Michigan has signed an agreement with four other states and the federal government to share the work of reviewing proposed offshore wind energy projects.
Michigan already offers financial incentives to companies that manufacture wind energy components; but the industry as a whole has yet to take wing in the Great Lakes. Now, the agreement announced on Friday will speed up the process of reviewing offshore wind project proposals.
"I don't think there's any doubt that the future of energy is going to include offshore wind in some fashion," says Ken Silfven, a spokesman for Michigan governor Rick Snyder. " I can’t tell you how much of a role or anything like that; but I think it’s pretty clear that there’s a place for it.”
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates wind power across the Great Lakes region could potentially produce enough electricity to power more than 210 million homes.