Mariah Power's Windspire turbines spin in Wheeling, Ill.
By Gabriel Goodwin
Capital News Service
MasTech Manufacturing L.L.C. and Mariah Power have come together, in Manistee, to produce windspires allowing Michigan to move closer to Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s renewable energy goals.
Mariah Power is spending $2 million to buy steel for the windspire production and hire 140 workers over the next three years, while MasTech is investing $1.5 million into the manufacturing site to update and retrofit equipment.
Granholm said, “If you can make a part for a car, if you can bend steel for a car, you can bend steel for a wind turbine or you can make a solar panel.
“Demand for wind-energy products will continue to grow as federal initiatives to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil advance.”
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation supported the project with a $400,000 grant.
MEDC President Greg Main said, “The partnership between MasTech and Mariah Power demonstrates how we can put Michigan’s strong manufacturing infrastructure to new use making renewable energy products that are in high demand.”
MasTech chose Michigan over other states and foreign sites because of its experienced manufacturers who can apply advanced technology skills, Main said.
Amy Berry, communications director for Mariah Power, said it chose the site because the workers had the experience with the components required to create windspires and the governor was committed to Michigan being the center of renewable energy production and was supportive of type of renewable power it could create.
“We had the opportunity to manufacture a better quality product at a competitive price to China,” Berry said.
She said that 98 percent of the parts for the wind turbine will be purchased from Michigan companies. The only part not available is the magnet components.
Mariah Power will be getting its components from Alro Steel Corp. in Cadillac and Whitehall Industries Inc. in Ludington along with Norton Packaging Inc. in Grand Haven, and Amptech Inc. in Freesoil.
The manufacturing site owned by MasTech is a 30,000 square foot structure that makes automation machinery for automotive industry. Automation work will continue but the majority of the facility will be converted to make the windspires, Berry said.
Because the automotive industry is down, MasTech had been looking into other manufacturing opportunities.
Mariah Power developed Windspires for household use. They do not have propeller blades but an airfoil, which spins on a vertical axis, Berry said. They are about 30 feet high and four feet wide.
These wind turbines are available to consumers for about $4,000 plus a $1,000 installation fee. Berry said they have a 1.2 kW rating during 25 mph winds and can produce 2,000 kW annually. They have the potential to meet roughly 25 percent of a home’s electricity needs, she added.
At current production, the facility can create 300 turbines a month, Berry said, and should reach the site’s potential of 1,000 a month within a year.
Granholm said, “Michigan is proud to be the place where these two companies are partnering to create jobs making these easy-to-use turbines that can generate energy at a home or business.
“Demand for wind-energy products will continue to grow as federal incentives to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil advance.”
The wind spires shouldn’t be anywhere near those trees shown in the picture. This is a ridiculous siting choice and whoever installed them there should refund any fees associated with their “service.”
Craig Saunders has a good piece on windmills for homeowners: http://greentenant.blogspot.com/2009/05/small-wind-turbines-for-city.html
Nice article. I’m a Northern Michigan reporter (and CNS alum), and it’s so good to see a Manistee manufacturer retool itself for renewables. Unfortunately, there’s some serious question about the product. It suffered a very poor performance at the National Renewable Energy Lab. Tests ended early this winter because of equipment failure. http://www.nrel.gov/wind/smallwind/mariah_power.html
My coworker Peter Payette interviewed reporter Ian Woofenden with Homepower Magazine, who was pretty critical of Mariah’s unrealistic sales pitch. The interview is about 27 minutes into the audio at our website (posted above). Might be worth a follow-up?