A new report by the American Wind Energy Association cites Michigan as one of the leading states for growth in the production of wind energy. The Battle Creek Enquirer noted in an op-ed:
 

In fact, according to the American Wind Energy Association, Michigan’s wind industry is among the fastest growing in the nation. Although we only ranked 22nd among states in the amount of wind power generated in 2008, the Great Lakes State is waking up to the fact that in addition to electrical power, there is employment riding on the wind.

The number of U.S. wind-industry jobs grew from approximately 50,000 in 2007 to more than 85,000 in 2008, according to the AWEA’s annual report released this week.

In Michigan, facilities related to the production of utility-scale wind turbines opened in Lansing and Alpena last year, while similar operations expanded in Ann Arbor and Holland. At a time when our state is hemorrhaging jobs, the wind industry is creating them.

We should continue to push for expansion of wind energy. With Lake Michigan to our West, we have an enormous resource for generating power without releasing pollution or greenhouse gasses.