Wind Power
Wind is a renewable energy.
Using the wind to create electricity is "Wind Power."
Our Tribe can benefit from wind energy now. Electricity created from wind by the use of "Wind Turbine Generators" (WTG) has been in use for decades. Wind is the most economical renewable energy for Michigan at this time. Michigan is the 14th windiest state in the USA. Utilizing wind energy will benefit our Tribe by protecting our environment, saving money, creating revenue, and creating Tribal jobs.
I first learned of renewable energy from our Tribe. The Tribe formed a renewable energy work group. Our Tribe, through a grant program hired a renewable energy consultant. When I learned the Tribe could install 1 or 2 commercials windmills and this would create enough electricity for our new Casino, I got a chill in my body. THIS IS AWESOME! Our Tribe pays nearly $1 million annually for electricity at our New Casino. Our electrical cost could be paid for by the wind! The Renewable Energy Workgroup is very knowledgeable, but for political reasons the team is on hold.
Recently, I started my own renewable energy project. I hired my own energy consultant. In only 18 months, I received a permit from Emmet County for the county's first Metrological Tower. I purchased a 165ft metrological tower (wind study tower) and installed the tower. The tower gathered wind data for 1 year. Subsequently, I created Emmet County's first ever wind study. This study can be utilized throughout Emmet County. A wind study is the first and very crucial step for the development of a commercial windmill. The study can show payoff calculations needed for finance. The study can also show calculations for profit. For my site I have fulfilled zoning requirements and I am in the permitting process for a commercial windmill. I hope to get the permit by July of 2009.
Dexter and I will reunite our Tribe's Renewable Energy Workgroup so our Tribe can capitalize on the wind. Did you know at one time the whole City of Petoskey was powered by the Bear River? Today, our power comes from coal, threatening our environment with global warming and pollution. Did you know in one day Denmark created 110% of electricity for the whole country from the wind? The excess electricity was sold for profit to the neighboring country. Can you imagine free electricity for the new Casino? Can you imagine free electricity for the Elder's Housing?
Financing; The initial cost of commercial windmills often detours people from investing in wind power. Electricity costs at Odawa Casino run at approximately 1 million dollars per year. If we invest in commercial windmills, in six years time we will have paid for two 1.5 Mega Watt Wind Turbine Generators. After the windmills are paid off we could profit $1 million per year.
The Obama Administration is earmarking billions of dollars for renewable energy. Banks are predicted to have Government guaranteed loans, creating opportunity for renewable energy projects. Our Tribe needs to capitalize on these opportunities!
Depreciation, Tax Incentives; There are double depreciation and tax incentives for development of renewable energy projects. This will not last forever. The double depreciation means a company can write off the total cost of the windmills in 5 years. There are tax incentives to capitalize on for 2 more years. They are called "green tax credit" incentives. With the tax incentives over and above the double depreciation it pays big business to venture in this field. Electricity is created and sold for profit. Big businesses scurry to develop a windmill before a calendar year ends to capitalize on the incentives. After the 7 years are up, the business is ready for new venture and typically will sell off their windmill cheap. Our Tribe could benefit from this type of a sale.
Grants, LLC Partnership's; Tribes across the nation qualify for renewable energy grants for which big business cannot. Tribes can qualify for renewable energy grants up to $1 million dollars. Additional money needed for wind energy development can be obtained through LLC partnerships. LLC partnerships allow big business to partner with tribes. The tribe captures the grant; big business invests the cash to develop commercial windmills. In a business deal like this, LTBB would own 51% of the LLC. Existing LLC rules and guidelines allow for the business partner to capitalize on the double depreciation and tax incentives. After 7 years, our Tribe would own the commercial windmill. This has proven to be a win-win situation.
There are numerous good, logical reasons for capturing the wind to create electricity. Installing a commercial windmill is not like reinventing the wheel. We are simply taking a proven product and utilizing it for our own benefit. We will profit while protecting our environment. Our Tribe still has the ability and resources to be the leader of the pack in renewable energy in Northern Michigan. We have the knowledge and professional renewable energy assistance if needed. What are we waiting for??????