Last month I spoke of a new manufacturing venture between MasTech Manufacturing and Mariah Wind Power and the possibility of the partnership bringing jobs to Manistee County in my blog Windspire by Mariah Power Part I.
Many in Michigan, including myself, have been sitting on pins and needles to hear the decision of this joint venture.
Where will the new home for the manufacturing of this Vertical Axis Wind Turbine be?
This began quietly in early June 2008. While working on the Michigan Energy Fair Allan O'Shea, co-chair of the Michigan Energy Fair and Chair of the Manistee County Commission received a lead that this company called Mariah Power was looking for a permanent home to manufacture the Windspire VAWT.
Since June 2008 the both the city and county of Manistee, the state of Michigan and private venture capitalists have come together to make it possible.
I received the joyous news today from Allan O'Shea. In a meeting of the Mariah board Monday September 15 locating manufacturing operations in Manistee Michigan was approved contingent on the passing of a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant (CBDG). The Manistee County Board of Commissioners approved the Community Block Devevelopment Grant at the regular commission meeting Tuesday morning.
Mr. O'Shea was very excited in our conversation today. He stressed the lengths that Michigan communities will go to in order to bring jobs to Michigan and to create a win-win situation for businesses. Renee Ihlenfeldt, Executive Director of the Alliance for Economic Success in Manistee has said that Mariah was very pleased with the way the community backed this project.
Mariah currently has backorders for 3500 WindSpires, a year of work for the new partnership. The 30-foot tall wind energy system offers an alternative for urban residences and businesses. It is attractive and quiet and offers easy installation with minimal maintenence.
The WindSpire was one of the highlights at the Michigan Energy Fair this year. It was spinning all weekend long!!! If you are in Washington you can see the WindSpire on display at Capitol Hill!! Windspire is on display near the Capitol Building at the US Botanic Gardens through October 2008!
You can check in with Mike Brennan over at MITECHNEWS to hear a podcast recorded at the Michigan Energy Fair discussing the Mariah WindSpire.
Congrats Manistee and Michigan for bringing a projected 116 new jobs and tremendous technology to this community and this state! Bookmark my blog for new information on the WindSpire as manufacturing operations gear up!!!
PS...check out the solar tax credit expiration counter to the right...your 30% federal tax credit on Solar expires in less than 106 days!
13 Comments on Windspire by Mariah Power - Renewable energy creates new Michigan jobs!! Part II
SEP
17
2008
What a great thing to happen in Manistee County. How wonderful it will be to have more jobs available, and to have such a great company moving in. All those people involved in making this happen deserve a big round of applause!!!
Thanks for commenting! This is exciting news and it has been exciting to see "real" people put this package together and roll out the red carpet for this company! I'm applauding with you!
Mary that is such a cool looking wind turbine! Thanks for posting the video - I want one! What does one of those babies cost? I'm glad to hear that the company is setting up in MI, it will certainly help a lot of people.
Fabulous! I just blogged about the potential for Green jobs in Ohio. It is definitely the economic sector to watch - it's where many of the new jobs will be coming from!
Hi Georgina! Hopefully installed price is going to be between 8 - 10K. Not bad at all and I am excited for the larger model to be designed! Thanks for your comment! Coming from the renewable energy state it means alot!
Stay in touch and we'll get the information to the islands for you!
Hi Suzanne! Yes! There are many "green collar" jobs on the horizon! It is great that companies like these are coming together and have VC behind them to make it all possible! It is an exciting future!
Great article! From the website (http://mariahpower.com) it looks like there will be 2 sizes available (1.2 kW and 3 kW) in the short term. It's great to see an American company actually manufacturing their products here in the states.
Hi Pete - Thanks! from what I understand Mariah has the Windspire in R & D for the larger, more productive unit.
I agree, not only is it great to see an American company manufacturing products in the states but I am very excited that Mariah Power has chosen Michigan for the manufacturing operations. As I understand it 80% of the components will also come from local operations as well! How exciting for Michigan!
Cool post. I've never need that style before...alot more attractive then the big eye-soar propeller blade models out there. Because of the size and design...you would be able to place alot more of these and leave less of a footprint on the landscape.
Hi Les ~ Yes, these are very attractive, have a small footprint and are very quiet! Plus! the company has committed to Michigan and Michigan suppliers. In our current economic environment this is needed! Thanks for the comments. I have much to update and have been busy "in the field" Peace ~
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What a great thing to happen in Manistee County. How wonderful it will be to have more jobs available, and to have such a great company moving in. All those people involved in making this happen deserve a big round of applause!!!