A 1200 ACRE tract of land south of Sawyer International Airport could be the site of a major solar farm in the U.P.
Marquette resident Rich Vander Veen, best known for having jump-started the wind power movement in Michigan, is teaming up with Tradewind Energy on the project.
They’ve leased 1200 acres where they’ve proposed to install 80,000 solar panels to produce 20 megawatts of energy. According to Vander Veen, that would be sufficient to power 3000 homes twenty-four hours a day.
They’ll present their plan to UPPCO on January 4th in hopes that the power company will agree to buy the power generated by the solar farm.
When might UPPCO decide? No way of knowing at this point.
Vander Veen is hopeful that this project would be just the start. The 1200 acres they’ve leased could house far more solar panels and produce many more megawatts of energy if UPPCO gives them the go-ahead.
VERIDEA’S NOT SAYING much about its plans to buy the old UPHS hospital site and turn it into a mixed use development.
They’ll need a few months to make more detailed plans for the project which they may release before the sale goes through. That’s now scheduled for early summer, after UPHS moves out and relocates to its new hospital next to the highway.
The deal was in the works for a couple of years. Other developers looked at the site but Veridea, a local firm with a solid reputation, stuck with it.
One of the big questions raised by many in the community: Will this new 21 acre development offer housing–apartments, condos, townhouses–for middle income folks?
Not the $1500 dollar a month apartment or the $400,000 condo, but more like apartments starting at $800, and condos under $300,000. Will that be possible?
NO ACTUAL APPLICANTS yet for Marquette’s Creative Residency program.
That’s the one that invites “creatives”–artists, writers, and digital folks–to come live in Marquette for March, April, and May…for free.
Kind of surprising, this lack of response. Nick Steffey, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, says they’ve had inquiries for the positions, but no applicants yet. (Application fee: $20)
The word is getting out on social media and Steffey expects a surge in applications soon. The initial deadline for applications was December 15th.
Something new this year: the “creatives” will be housed in One Marquette Place, the new high rise on the lake shore.
Not a bad place to get those creative and intellectual wheels spinning. And….did we mention it’s free?
You got news? Email me at briancabell@gmail.com