There's not much special to see at the posted coordinates. However, if you broaden your horizons and look to the horizon in every direction you should see a farm of modern proportions. More than green growing crops, these monuments of technology are helping to reduce Michigan's dependence on fossil fuels and provide an energy source that it is fully renewable.
As of May 2020, Michigan has a total of 1,149 operational turbines producing 2,331MW of power. Gratiot County currently has 400 Turbines in operation with a MW capacity at 823.2MW. A megawatt of wind generates about as much electricity as 225 to 300 households use. But because the wind does not blow all of the time, it cannot be the only power source. Public Act 342 dictates Michigan's renewable energy standard at 15% of total capacity from all sources by 2021, and a goal of 35% by 2025. In February of 2019, there was a total of 3,000MW attributed to renewable energy sources with Wind energy leading the way at 69%. Hydroelectric (12%), Biomass (7%), Landfill gas (5%), Solar (4%), and Municipal Solid Waste (3%) are the other sources. As of April 2020, Michigan ranked 12th in the nation for installed wind turbines.
Science of Wind Energy: Let's talk about wind. What is wind and what causes it? Wind is actually a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the Earth, and the Earth's surface irregularities. For as long as the sun shines and the wind blows, the energy produced can be harnessed to send power across the electrical grid.
The geology of wind: The movement of the atmosphere in a direction parallel to the earth surface is wind. Geological work of wind. The earth is surrounded by an envelop of gases called the atmosphere. The movement of the atmosphere in a direction parallel to the earth surface is wind. i.e. the air in motion is called wind whereas the vertical movement of the atmosphere are termed "air currents". Wind erosion is generally caused by two erosion processes: Deflation and Abrasion. Delfation is the process of removing loose sand and dust particles from an area by moving winds. Abrasion is the process of wind, loaded with particles, eroding rock surfaces by rubbing and grinding actions.
Landscape of wind: You need a geologic landscape largely devoid of trees and other “wind obstructions." The open plains need to be 93% or more clear to provide the necessary open space for wind energy, while hilltops need to be only 10% “clear” to provide that necessary wind space, and passes or ravines need to only be 40% clear to provide the necessary wind tunnel. Of course, no one would even think of creating a wind farm in an enclosed valley or forest.
Wind Turbines: Windmills are not something new. People have been milling corn and watering crops in Persia since the 1st century with the use of wind mills. They were built in France, England, and Asia in the 12th Century. The first electricity generating windmill was actually built in the late 19th Century. Ironically fossil fuel technology caused wind power to fall by the wayside in the 19th and 20th centuries. But now with the price of oil, environmental concerns, and wind turbines becoming more efficient, wind power is making a comeback.
The wind turbine is essentially made up of 5 main parts: foundation, tower, nacelle, rotors, and the transformer. The wind turns the rotor (or blades), which turns a generator (basically copper wire and magnets) inside of the nacelle, which creates electricity. The nacelle sits on top of the tower. The tower is the long pole that gets the rotors up into the wind currents. The tower sits on top of a foundation full of rebar and over 300 cubic yards of concrete. The transformer sits next to the tower and helps convert the wind into energy.
These wind turbines are 233 feet tall. Each of the blades measure 75 feet long. They can be seen for miles in every direction. An important factor in selecting a wind farm location is the land or terrain itself. Wind maps help in selecting a site, but the actual terrain has a lot to do with it.
Logging Requirements:
Now to get credit for this earthcache you will need to answer some questions. Answers need to be sent to the owner of the cache, DO NOT post your answers on the cache page. Please also indicate your geocaching name and include the names of other geocachers with you.
1. What were the general weather conditions on the day you visited?
2. Count the number of turbines (windmills) visible from the posted coordinates. Yes, look in every direction for 360-degrees. Based on your count, how many HOMES can be powered by these visible turbines? (Provide your count as well.)
3. What type of energy is wind?
4. While counting the turbines, what type of GEOLOGY is present? That is, is the area where you see the turbines working a plain, a pass, or a hilltop?
5. What type of wind erosion is present in the area?
6. Look at how the earth's formation is around here. Tell me what about the land here either does or does not make this a good location for a wind farm.
7. Finally, take a picture of yourself (your face is not required), or personal item, with the windfarm visible behind you. Post the picture with your log.
Thanks for visiting my Earthcache!
