by Hannah Watts

Energy providers around the state are determined to meet or exceed Michigan's expectation to have 10 percent of the state's total energy come from renewable sources by 2015.

Though most of Michigan's renewable energy is currently derived from wind, energy providers like Consumers Energy are leading the exploration of other sources of renewable energy and making sure they are optimal and affordable for Michigan and its residents.

The most recent venture by Consumers Energy is the opening of Cross Winds Energy Park, a 111 megawatt wind farm in Tuscola County. A ribbon cutting for the park took place on October 31, 2014, and the wind park is expected to open around Thanksgiving. It will provide energy for more than 30,000 homes throughout Michigan's "thumb".

Dennis Dobbs, vice president of Green Generation for Consumers Energy tells Greening of the Great Lakes host, Kirk Heinze, the park is "a great win for everyone."

Please click here to listen to Dobbs' conversation with Heinze.

Wind energy in Michigan

Surrounded and impacted by the Great Lakes and their accompanying weather patterns, Michigan is very suitable for wind energy generation, says Dobbs.

"Wind is the most economical resource and we've seen the cost of wind turbines come down by 40 percent in just the last seven years," Dobbs says. "I think everyone would like to see more renewables for Michigan. It's just a matter of mastering the balance between affordability and reliability and determining how much and by when."

The cost of generating wind energy continues to decrease as manufacturers modify turbine designs and technology to fit each state's wind profile.

"When wind farms started popping up across the country, they were in places that had very different wind resources and profiles than Michigan," he says. "As we build more and more wind parks, we get smarter at it and can build them cheaper."

Alternative renewables

Consumers Energy is also working with four of Michigan's largest farms to explore biomass. Energy created from biomass involves harnessing farm waste products and turning them into energy using anaerobic digesters. Energy generation from biomass is environmentally conscious and assists farms with waste management.

Solar energy has been slower to take off in Michigan, but Dobbs says both consumers and energy providers will start to embrace it as costs decrease. More than 200 of Consumers Energy's customers, residential and commercial, currently use solar technology to generate energy.

Looking forward, Dobbs says natural gas is an attractive prospect from both a financial and environmental standpoint. As such, Consumers Energy has plans to replace seven of its coal fire plants with natural gas plants.

"Those coal units have provided our customers with great value for the past 60 years, but it's time to move on," he says. "There's been an expansion of natural gas here in the state and it's a good move for our customers from both an economic and environmental standpoint."

Looking to the future

Dobbs gives a positive projection for Michigan's future energy portfolio and says energy companies strive to please Michigan residents and businesses while acknowledging realistic parameters for expansion.

"We have to balance all of the needs for the state of Michigan," he says. "We'll advance on cleaner energy in a pace that makes it affordable and reliable for the state."

Greening of the Great Lakes airs every Sunday evening at 7:00 on News/Talk 760 WJR and around the state each weekend via the Michigan Talk Network. Please follow us on Twitter.