Call the Wind

> By Noah Fowle News-Review Staff Writer
> Tuesday, October 14, 2008 8:13 AM EDT
> TRAVERSE CITY - On the heels of a pair of alternative energy bills signed
> into law last week, Nevada-based Mariah Power officially announced that it
> would manufacture its Windspires in Northern Michigan.
> Mike Hess, the CEO of Mariah Power, said it was paramount to him to make
his
> products domestically. The agreement is expected to create 141 jobs over
the
> next year in Manistee.
> "We want to manufacture in the U.S. because if we don't create jobs ...
our
> children and grandchildren aren't going to have the same future we had,"
he
> said.
> Gov. Jennifer Granholm joined Hess and said the recent agreement is the
> first to bring green energy jobs to the state. Granholm called the
> alternative energy legislation the most significant of her career and said
> it would help diversify the state's manufacturing-based economy as well as
> take advantage of its natural resources. The Michigan Economic Development
> Corporation supported the project with a $400,000 grant.
> "We in Michigan want to do things that make us recession-proof. The

> to keep and lure alternative energy job providers is one way to do that,"
> she said. "We know times are tough for traditional manufacturers but we
also
> know there is a huge global movement to reduce our carbon footprint."
> The Windspires, which will be made at MasTech in Manistee, will stand
> 30-feet tall and provide 1.2 kilowatts of power, enough to supply a home
> with a quarter of its energy needs, and cost $5,000. Next year, the

> will be rolling out a larger model that can supply three kilowatts of
power
> for $15,000.
> Mariah Power has come up with a program for schools to pay for the units
> based on energy savings. Hess said they are working on a similar program
for
> residential customers. Granholm also pointed out that part of the recent
> federal bailout also provides for a 30 percent tax rebate for purchasing
> green energy equipment.