First Michigan Made Utility Scale Wind Turbine Installed in McBain, MI Wind Farm

For all the haters and doubters out there, and for all the renewable power fans out there, and for all the supporters of green manufacturing out there, the Stony Corners wind farm in McBain, Michigan has installed the first Michigan Made utility scale wind turbine.

Merrill Technologies Group, located in Saginaw, Michigan, manufactured the 2.2 MW wind turbine.

Although a company of Vermont owns the design, the turbine is being assembled in Michigan. The 136,000-ton machine has blades extending 150 feet and will be placed on a tower nearly 300 feet high at the Stoney Corners wind farm in McBain, southeast of Cadillac. It will be used to test the advantages of direct-drive technology in comparison to alternative designs, Merrill said.

The ability to produce the wind machine is a result of Merrill’s diversification, said Nate Jonker, public affairs official for the company. Merrill, which began as a General Motors supplier, has four manufacturing divisions that produce components for a variety of industries.

This is the perfect union of clean, green energy and job creator in the state of Michigan. We're well on our way to having the means to produce our own turbines and our own power.