The Michigan Wind Farm Map offers current, proposed, deferred, or canceled projects in Michigan. Information is taken from public and government reports from the Michigan Public Services Commission. This site is updated as information becomes available.
The Great Lakes Map of Wind Farms in Michigan
Map and Data of Wind Turbines in Michigan last updated March 18, 2023
The Upper Thumb & Mid Michigan Leads in Renewable Energy
The first wind turbine installed in the Upper Thumb was at Laker Elementary School near Pigeon in 2005. 1
The first industrial wind farms were Harvest Wind near Elkton and Michigan Wind 1 near Ubly. Both came online in 2008.1
Michigan’s Thumb (Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola) currently has 836 operating turbines producing 1584 MW of electricity. 59% of the total operating in the state. 7
Huron County has the largest installed wind energy base in the Great Lakes region, with 472 active wind turbines. 7
The Upper Thumb region hosts a high-capacity, 140-mile electric transmission line. This project is called the Thumb Loop, capable of carrying electricity or up to 2,800 wind turbines. 2
Gratiot Farms Wind Project went online on December 16, 2020, and featured 60 turbines with a 150-megawatt capacity, enough to power about 58,000 residents.
As of August 2021, Michigan has an installed operational capacity of 3,102 MW. 7
Gratiot County has the second-largest installed base of wind turbines in Michigan. (420) When the new Consumers Energy Wind Farm is completed, it will leave only four of the county’s 16 townships, Arcada, Elba, Seville, and Sumner townships, without a wind park. 8
Michigan Wind Energy Operational Stats
As of August 2021, Michigan has a total of 1,581 operational turbines producing 3,102 MW. Plans underway show a total of 1,658 turbines with 3,527 MW operational at the end of 2021. Source: Michigan Public Services Commission
The as of May 2020, the Michigan Public Services Commission is currently tracking progress on 33 wind farm projects. Source: Michigan Public Services Commission
In February 2019, there was a total of 3,000 MW attributed to renewable energy production. 69% was wind energy followed by Hydroelectric (12%), Biomass (7%), Landfill gas (5%), Solar (4%), and Municipal solid waste (3%) – Source: Report on the Implementation and Cost Effectiveness of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard – February 15, 2019
In 2017 11.3% of all electricity produced in Michigan was generated by renewable. – Source: Report on the Implementation and Cost Effectiveness of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard – February 15, 2019
As of April 2020, Michigan has an Installed Wind Capacity of 2,684 MW. Source: American Wind Energy Association, USGS
In 2015 all of Michigan’s electric providers met – or exceeded – the 10 percent renewable energy standard set by the Michigan legislature.
Michigan’s new renewable standard will increase to 12.5 percent in 2019 and 2020 and 15 percent in 2021, as required by Public Act 342. A goal of 35% by 2025. Source: Report on the Implementation and Cost Effectiveness of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard – February 15, 2019
As of April 2020, Michigan ranks 12th in the nation for installed wind turbines. Source: American Wind Energy Association
DTE Energy owns and operates 18 wind parks and 31 solar farms that will produce more than 1,760 megawatts of energy, enough to power 670,000 homes.
Consumers Energy owns 3 and operates 18 solar farms. The company has plans to add nearly 8,000 MW of solar, including approximately 1,100 MW through 2024.
Mid-Michigan’s Isabella l and Isabella ll are Michigan’s largest wind parks.
As of April 2020, wind energy has created between 4,000-5,000 jobs in Michigan. Source: American Wind Energy Association
There are at least 27 manufacturing facilities in Michigan producing components for the wind industry. Source: American Wind Energy Association
Michigan’s Thumb’s highest wind speeds occur from September through April, averaging 12.4 miles per hour. The summer months from April through September are calmer, with an average hourly wind speed of 9.1 miles per hour.
Approximately $4.2 billion has been invested in wind energy projects in the state of Michigan. Source: American Wind Energy Association
While Michigan’s Thumb region leads the Great Lakes area with over 1368 MW of capacity, the latest completed projects in Mid-Michigan Gratiot County will host 400 turbines with 823.8 MW of capacity.
Top 5 Wind Counties in Michigan
The following chart represents the top five counties in Michigan with the most wind turbines. In August 2021, Gratiot and Isabella counties overtook Huron in terms of the most output capacity. However, Huron county remains the leader with the most installed wind turbines in operation.
| County | Turbines | Capacity (MW) |
| Huron | 474 | 872.2 |
| Gratiot/Isabella | 468 | 1023 |
| Tuscola/Bay/Saginaw | 251 | 451 |
| Isabella | 136 | 383 |
| Sanilac | 70 | 122 |
Locate Michigan Wind Farms Near You
Currently, there are no ongoing tours available to casual visitors. However, during special events like Cheeseburger in Caseville or the Harbor Beach Mariners Festival, DTE has been known to host tours. Check the event directory for potential tours in the Upper Thumb.
Detailed Michigan Wind Farm Pages
Specific details for each wind farm in the greater Thumb and Michigan area can be found in the links below.
- Apple Blossom Wind Farm
- Beebe Community Wind Farm
- Cross Winds Energy Parks (I, II, III)
- Deerfield Wind Farm
- Gratiot Wind Farms
- Lake Winds Energy Park
- Michigan Wind 1
- Michigan Wind 2
- Pinnebog Wind Farm
- Thumb Wind Park Sigel
- Tuscola Bay Wind I
- Crescent (Hillsdale)Wind Farm
Resources – DIY Wind Turbine Kits
Images below may contain affiliate links that, if purchased, we may receive a commission. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.
Wind Energy Growth in the United States
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that new U.S. wind capacity projects over the next year will be near the annual record level of additions last set in 2012. Wind capacity additions in the United States through June 2019 totaled 3.7 gigawatts (GW). Wind projects reported to EIA through surveys and on EIA’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. Operators expect another 8.5 GW to come online by the end of 2019, with an additional 14.3 GW by 2020.
Note: Values given as nameplate capacity.
The cumulative U.S. established onshore wind capacity exceeded 100 gigawatts (GW) as of the end of September 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. More than half of that amount has been installed since the beginning of 2012. The oldest wind turbines still operating in the United States came online as early as 1975.
Michigan No Longer Leads in Wind Energy
By the end of September 2019, 41 states had at least one installed wind turbine. Texas had the most capacity installed, at 26.9 GW, followed by Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas. These four states accounted for half of the total U.S. installed wind capacity. It’s estimated that the United States would have about 122 GW of wind capacity by the end of 2020.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Farms
As of 2019, the Us Department of Energy estimates that wind power supplies about 6% of total U.S. electricity generation. They further estimate that there are 80 gigawatts of industrial wind farms in production. That’s enough to power 24 million homes. The states with the highest production use of wind are Iowa and South Dakota with 30%. Twelve other states have approximately 10% of total use.
Commercial wind farms are typically built by wind energy developers using private funding and financing. The Department of Energy noted that before a wind project starts, the developer will assess the wind resource at a particular site by collecting meteorological data, determining transmission line access, and reviewing environmental and community impacts. Local zoning also places a huge factor in the ability to place a wind turbine on any property.
It’s estimated that the United States would have about 122 GW of wind capacity by the end of 2020.
Wind farms in Michigan are clustered in three counties where the wind is fairly consistent and strong. These are Huron County in the Upper Thumb. Gratiot County in mid-Michigan and Tuscola County, also in Michigan’s Thumb. See our map of wind turbines in Michigan for exact locations.
MLA Citation for this Story
Hardy, Michael. (2022a, February 18). Michigan Wind Farm Map (2022) • Active And Planned Wind Projects. Thumbwind Publications. https://thumbwind.com/michigan-wind-farm-map/
Related Michigan Wind Farms Reading
- Huron Continues to Lead in Wind Incidents in 2017 – 2017 data obtained from Caithness Windfarm Information Forum, a global incident collection group in the UK showed that since 1990, Huron County continues to lead Michigan in terms of wind farm accidents and incidents.
- Michigan Competitive in Wind Production, But Future Limited – Over the past twenty years, the Great Lakes region has been steadily increasing the number of new wind projects and wind energy output. Now that pace looks to have slowed with more local communities placing acting tighter zoning control over industrial wind development. Se our map of wind turbines in Michigan for details.
- Michigan Wind Farm Accidents – Publicly reported incidents regarding structural, environmental, personal injury, and transport incidents associated with industrial wind energy. Includes a map similar to the map of wind turbines in Michigan
- What to Do During a Power Blackout – A Checklist – Looking ahead, we thought it was a good idea to provide a quick checklist for preparing for an extended power outage of at least three days. Extended power outages can occur after a severe storm with associated high winds. Here is the list of supplies and things to do to make the best of it.
Sources Consulted For Map of Wind Turbines in Michigan
- AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Online Wind Projects and Manufacturing Facilities
- Detroit Free Press
- Weatherspark.com
- “Map services and data are available from U.S. Wind Turbine Database, provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, American Wind Energy Association, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory”.
- Michigan Public Services Commission – Report on the Implementation and Cost Effectiveness of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard February 15, 2019
- Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Michigan Public Services Commission
- Gratiot to get 6th wind farm
What about the Gratiot County wind farm?
I plan on an update in the Fall.
I have a cabin on lake Huron in Oscoda and can see a row of red lights on a clear night,
Could it be possible these are wind farms in the thumb
Yes that’s exactly what your seeing. By next year you may see up to 200 more turbines. Thanks for your observation.
Do these red dots on the horizon have an effect on you?
From where we are at we look north toward you. There are frees behind us so we don’t see the turbines. I’m sure they are visible to you and at Tawas.
Do you know the location of the wind farms in the Consumers Energy Cross Winds Project planned for Huron County?
Crosswinds Energy Park will be located in Tuscola county in Michigan’s Thumb. Consumers Energy plans to locate the the wind turbines for 150 MW project in Columbia and Akron Townships.
Do you know the location of the wind farms in the Consumer’s Energy Cross Winds project planned for Huron County?
I work on the beach at Tawas Point State Park, on clear days I too see the turbines offshore, can you tell me the name of the wind farm that appears offshore in Tawas? I was assuming that what I see was near Caseville.
Your seeing the Echo Wind Park. DTE is currently working to get all 70 turbines online this year.
Thanks for the info.
On the clearest of days you can just make out the tops of the turbines…if I remember right, the curvature of the earth allows us to see around 8 miles…it would be a fun trip to kiteboard out there and back.
I’m moving to Deford soon. I’m interested in employment, in support of the wind farms. Where can I find job postings?!
Sorry, I misunderstood the intent of your site. I thought you supported wind farms. Please feel free to NOT post my earlier comment. But, I would be interested in hearing more of your thoughts about how wind farms are spoiling The Thumb. Thanks!
Hi Jim, I neither support nor oppose wind development in the thumb. I have been very critical of how the initial development was handled. It was a land rush by energy companies and land owners who hoped to cash in. Now local government is wiser and taking a step back to assess the damage and draft new regulations.
On the plus side, renewable energy is a requirement for a sustainable future. I wholeheartedly support wise implementation and use of wind and solar.
Thanks for stopping by.
This is clearly disingenuous. Mr. ThumbWind, you evidently have an anti-wind stance. Stating otherwise is telling.
I’m sorry you feel this way. As a life long resident and taxpayer in Huron County I feel there has to be healthy skepticism about what DTE and others are telling the community. Nothing wrong with that. Don’t you agree?
It’s not a question of how I feel. Your statements on the matter are evidence enough “in favor of turning this land into a Green-Zone example for industrial energy production and a corporate farming enterprise that only pollutes and spoils the Tip-o’ the Thumb.”
You can characterize it as “healthy skepticism” or whatever else you like but it’s just NIBY plan and simple.
I took my wife and children on a “color tour” today. We visited http://www.johnsonsgiantpumpkins.net/ as well as stopped for lunch at a local eatery and bought some grocers for the drive around the Tuscola Bay Wind Farm. We put around $200 into the local economy…..because the
After driving thru the are between M81 and M25 for over 5 hours I can tell you a few things.
1)Wind turbine are massive. With the right vantage point you can see them from miles away. With the wrong vantage point (even within a mile) the entire Farm of over 75 turbine can be invisible.
2)With winds in the 20mph range today the noise from dry standing corn made it so I couldn’t hear the turbines. Passing cars were many times louder. This wind turbines are basically silent.
3)Almost no one lives in the area were these turbines are in operation. The houses in the area are for the most part a mile or more apart. Lots of Corn and Soy Bean very few people. I would guess the peak population density anywhere I drove today(that was within a mile of a Turbine)was under 50 people per square mile. Most of the area was probably 10 or under with some 0 in there.
4)Wind Turbines at first glance are a very rare example of form and function peaking a pinnacle together.
We will be going back, farther north to see more of the development and other sights in the thumb…..that I have only been to once before……after living near Detroit for 30 years and in Michigan my whole life…….
I also find it noteworthy that clearing the land and planting massive mono cultures for sale down state is fine…in-fact the basis of the entire economy in the area…but Wind Turbines to make power to sell down state is looked upon negatively by some.
I have written about wind turbines and support natural sources of energy. Smiles, Robin
Love seeing windmills, Can you tell the best hwys, in the thumb area to view them. Traveling with in a week from US23 north.
Get to Bay City and take M-25 To Port Austin. You will start seeing the turbines near Sebwaing. Have a good trip.
You have got to take the back/dirt roads … and then you will only see the smaller turbines that have been built. Nothing like the 499 plus footers that will be built … on “flat”land .. small turbines “nestled” amongst hilly land is no more than a deception to get you to fall for the monstrosities that are to follow.
I’m interested in the positives and negatives of wind turbines. I think they are beautiful in a sleek kind of way. But I don’t have to live near them. And one of my birder friends says they are deadly to migrating birds, yet another says they can be placed out of migrating paths and are not deadly to birds. Confusing.
PS: Thanks for stopping by my blog.
In the last few weeks I have seen a number of trucks hauling turbines west on M12 . Where are they headed?
I’m looking into it.
The last few months I have seen many trucks hauling these west on M12 through Saline. Where are these going?
I will have to check that one out. There was a project I that area but it was halted about a year ago.
There has been a wind farm just north of Deckerville for several years. Why is it not on the map?
What is the name of the project?
Probably Michigan Wind 2. It’s a bit larger than indicated by just the green marker. Eg: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=43.635827&lon=-82.705078&z=12
Thanks…I’ll be adding additional announced projects soon.
Could you tell me how many turbines are going up on Schott Road in Dwight township in Huron County, Mi
I will have to research for an exact number.
I continue to see wind mills being trucked west on US-12 through Saline, Clinton and to US-127. I am not sure where they go after that. That is as far as I have followed them. Have you determined where these might be going?
I am bringing a group of 20 university students on a civic engagement/career exploration trip around Michigan and would like to know if anyone can provide me direct contact info to request a wind farm tour in the thumb area of Michigan? If so, please email it to me at [email protected]
Michele..DTE has conducted tours during the summer months. I would think that Ferris would be a welcome visitor. I will try to make contact with the local DTE staff to close the loop for you. What dates are you thinking?
Tuesday, March 8th in the afternoon or Wednesday, March 9th in the morning. I can be reached at 231-591-2685. Thank you!
Michele..I’ve reached out to DTE and they may call you directly. the Harvest Wind parks I Huron Co. are quite a sight.
FUCK WIND TURBINES!!! I bought a house on Lake Huron for the view, and it is being WRECKED by UGLY wind turbines…I am trying to start a class action suit against them!!!!
Good luck with that
I have been pro renewable energy for quite some time however those turbines are enormous, ugly and a complete distraction they ruin the landscape, they look like something out of HG Wells War of the Worlds, very little has been spent on experimentation with fusion which could provide an entirely new form of clean energy
We agree. While wind energy must be part of the solution its not the sole source for renewable. Thanks for stopping by.
How do you pick the land…does each farmer have the same chance?
Energy companies conduct studies for placement of wind turbines in specific areas. This is overlaid on maps showing structures, zoning and restricted areas such as homes and schools. The result is a patch work of land area in which owners can be offered a lease. Thanks for stopping by.
We have a cottage on Lake Huron in Tawas City. Most nights, we can see a line of flashing red lights on the lake’s horizon. First time I saw them, I didn’t know what to make of it — especially since they all flash in unison. I’d be interested in the reason for that, since there must have been some additional cost to make that happen. If the wind farm is near Sebawaing as you say, that’s around 34 miles across the bay. By the way, on and around the 4th of July we can also see fireworks displays taking place in the thumb across the bay. I imagine folks in the thumb can do the same.
Those I the interior will notice the lights flashing at night. Those on the shore will not see them.
“Plans underway show 1,151 turbines with 2,132 MW operational at the end of 2016.” A nearly doubling in turbine count? Where? Do you have some information to support this claim?
Hi James, those estimates were cast in 2010 based on the passage of Michigan Senate Bill 213. That bill can be found here. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2007-SNB-0213_254495_7.pdf
Also refer to http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/wind_farm_summary_407660_7.pdf for specific cur the builds and estimates. Thanks for stopping by
There is a windmill park scheduled to be built in 2017 in southern Sanilac county. Fremont and Speaker townships are supposed to get between 75 and 100 windmills. Land has been leased.
Thanks for the information. Good stuff.
What kind of jobs do these wind parks offer the people of the thumb area?
Once built the wind farms employ about 5-10 people to manage several farms. They are all monitored remotely. They are specially skilled specific to the turbine type and project.
They are in the Ithaca, MI area.