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Milwaukee port’s wind turbine pays off

   A wind turbine commissioned in February 2012 at the Port of Milwaukee resulted in $5,000 net revenue for the port within the first nine months of operation, according to a recent update by the port authority and the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability.
   The Northern Power 100-kilowatt turbine provides 100 percent of the port administration building’s electricity needs with the excess sold to We Energies. The estimated annual savings to the city are $14,000 to $20,000 (at 2011 rates, revenue included).
   The turbine was manufactured in the United States, and many parts, including the tower, were made in Wisconsin. The $587,000 project received the bulk of its funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ($400,000) and $100,000 each from We Energies and the statewide Focus on Energy program, the port authority said.
   “This turbine is a demonstration of the city’s commitment to clean energy,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in a statement. “It is the first wind energy system to power a Milwaukee city building with clean, renewable electricity. This installation will benefit both the environment and taxpayers of Milwaukee.”

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.