
Marquette, Michigan – Jon Haindl, President of the Hiawathaland Farm Bureau 8th Day Interview focused on Upper Peninsula wind farms, costs of electricity production, and long-term economic opportunities related to clean energy. The place for clean energy and zoning issues were also explored.
As discussed in a recent article by the Michigan Farm Bureau, “many farmers are considering renewable energy as a way to either generate income or reduce their operation’s energy costs. Wind and solar energy development is expanding throughout the state and many farmers see an opportunity to diversify income.” Renewable energy sources can offset on-farm energy costs, but “on-farm renewable energy development projects can also result in very controversial conflicts and costly legal challenges as well.”
Listen:
- Great Lakes Radio Player: (35 Min. mp3)
- Default Device Player: (35 Min. mp3)
[Interview First Broadcast March 16, 2019]

Topics Discussed:
- Why Solar and Wind Energy Cost/kw Now Competitive (now at 5.5 cents/kw)
- Good Wind Verses Bad Wind Areas
- “Not in my Backyard Attitude”
- Royalties and Tax Base
- 3.3 Million People in Clean Energy while only 76 thousand work in Coal
- Michigan in top 10 of Clean Energy Jobs
- Emotions and Perceptions fuels opposition
- Expected Growth of Clean Energy by 6% over next few years
- Agriculture Close Connection to Wind Power
- Ideal Wind Turbines Locations (Open Space)
- Housing Development Reducing Agricultural Land Value
- Wind Power Increases Agricultural Land Value
- Zoning Blocking Wind/Solar Development
- Natural Gas Is the Match to Wind When Wind Doesn’t Blow
- Zoning Away Future Jobs
- Zoning out ability to support independent farmers
- (Facts) verses Feelings
- Hydro versus Nuclear versus Solar versus Coal versus Wind
- Pool of Energy – Limiting Supply Increases Prices
- Technology Improvement Fueling More Growth
- Growth Improving Technology
- The Future of Michigan Depends on Modern
- Farm Bureau Policy on Renewal Energy
- Organized Opposition to Wind
- Renewal Energy Accounts for 2 out of 5 Construction Jobs
- Educating the Public to Make the Informed Decisions
- Area-Specific Education
- In the U.S. of the 3007 counties in U.S., only 2 counties don’t have clean energy jobs
- 67% of Jobs in Clean Energy in Construction
- Mix of Energy to Secure Future
- Viable Economic Future without Subsidies
- More People Working Clean Energy than all Teachers in the USA
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