U.S. nuclear power plants have net summer capacities between about 500 and 1300 MW.
Michigan has a law REQUIRING the state to generate 10% of their energy needs with alternative energy. The Green Groups are hoping to raise it to 20% while Snyder pushes natural gas on the state.
Michigan's population as of 2010 was 9.9 million people.
Michigan's electricity use per year as of 2009 is 334.8 trillion BTU. That is the equivalent of 353.2 million Megawatts.
Michigan is currently only using 2.4 percent of it's wind capacity, which is 27.9 Megawatts. Michigan law states the power generated has to be 10 percent each year. The Green Groups are asking for the maximum capacity to be raised to 20 percent.
Ten percent of 353.2 million Megawatts is 35.3 Megawatts. Twenty percent would be 70.6 Megawatts. If Michigan were to invest in wind capacity for it's utilities from wind turbines produced in a Michigan assembly plant, it would surpass even 20 percent of the state's needs.
Currently, Governor Snyder is pushing natural gas exploration through fracking and ignoring the potential for green energy in Michigan. Someone needs to tell him there is plenty of green energy in Michigan.
Secretary of State Kerry stated the USA needs to move as much energy production to Green Sources to help the future generations recuperate from a warmed planet.
The State of Michigan borders four of the Great Lakes.
The number of inland lakes in Michigan depends on the minimum size: there are:
62,798 lakes ≥ 0.1 acres,
26,266 lakes ≥ 1.0 acres
6,537 lakes ≥ 10.0 acres
1,148 lakes ≥ 100 acres
98 lakes ≥ 1,000 acres
10 lakes ≥ 10,000 acres.
It seems as though Michigan should lead the way in harnessing wind power. Fracking is bad for Michigan. Michigan has water everywhere. Fracking will pollute any drinking water source and it would pollute the Great Lakes.
Lake Superior is 1,335 feet deep and 350 miles long. It is the largest of the Great Lakes in both surface area and volume. Lake Superior could contain all the other Great Lakes plus three more lakes the size of Lake Erie.
Lake Erie is 210 feet deep
Lake Huron is 748 feet deep
Lake Michigan is 925 feet deep
Lake Ontario is 804 feet deep
The average well is up to 8,000 feet deep.
The problems typically stem from poor cement well casings that leak natural gas as well as fracking fluid into water wells.
Michigan needs to harness it's wind power, meet the 20 percent that should be set this year and put an end to the idea fracking was ever viable in Michigan. The Great Lakes are federal and international jurisdictions as they border with Canada. The USA EPA has been revitalizing the Great Lakes since 2009. It is time the US EPA take a stand on fracking in Michigan.
