The Chamber of Commerce in Caro, Mich., will offer free public tours of the 111 MW Cross Winds Energy Park on Saturday, July 25.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, the tour includes background on how Cross Winds was constructed and a guided tour of the wind park, which started operating in December 2014.
‘We're pleased to offer this unique educational opportunity to the public,’ says Brenda Caruthers, executive director of the Caro Chamber of Commerce. ‘This experience will focus on how the wind park was built and [provide] a guided tour of it operating. Wind energy means jobs, investment and a new source of tax revenue for Tuscola County.’
The $255 million Cross Winds Energy Park, which is owned and operated by Consumers Energy, was constructed by about 150 workers in Akron and Columbia townships in Tuscola County.
Commercial operation of Cross Winds is powered by 62 GE 1.79 MW wind turbines and has enabled Consumers Energy to meet Michigan's 10% renewable energy standard one year ahead of the statutory requirement. Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and provides natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.