The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is investing in a new type of wind turbine designed for use by homes and businesses.
On Thursday, tribal officials dedicated a new manufacturing plant in McGregor where workers will make a part for the Windspire. That's a vertical-axis wind turbine made by Reno, Nev.-based Mariah Power. The Windspire is described as being low cost and ultra quiet.
A tour of the Mille Lacs Band's new Chi Noodin (Big Wind) Manufacturing Plant Thursday provided a look at the production of components for vertical wind turbines called Windspires. The wind turbines are made by Mariah Power for residential and commercial use. The band's Corporate Commission has a three-year contract to assemble Windspire parts at the facility on Meadow Drive in McGregor.
The parts will be assembled at MasTech Manufacturing LLC in Manistee, Mich. The band's Corporate Commission, which invested in Mariah Power earlier this year, reported it has a three-year contract to assemble Windspire parts the Chi Noodin facility, on Meadow Drive in McGregor.
The band provided a tour of the Chi Noodin (Big Wind) Manufacturing plant in McGregor Thursday and a look at the Windspire on the reservation. The band reported its DNR plans to study the Windspire's energy output for potential use with band homes and facilities.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe provided a tour Thursday of its Windspire, which was installed on the reservation. The Windspire is a vertical wind turbine where power is generated by spinning on a center pole instead of featuring rotating blades. The Windspire's energy output is being studied for potential use with band homes and facilities.
The wind turbine project is designed to add up to 15 jobs in District II of the Mille Lacs Reservation, which includes areas near McGregor. The facility is in the former McGregor skating rink building. The band previously reported the project, which was chosen by band members, furthers a long-held goal to bring economic development to the East Lake community and follows an overall value of environmental responsibility.
Through its investment in Mariah Power, the Mille Lacs Band will be the exclusive distributor for any Indian reservation buying a Windspire turbine, which costs about $6,500.
A Windspire is 30 feet tall and spins on a vertical axis unlike the larger turbines, which feature rotating blades and may be seen on wind farms. The Windspire generates power by spinning on the center pole. The reservation plans to use a Windspire turbine to power the District II Community Center in McGregor.
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
Top Commented Articles
