Milwaukee port’s wind turbine pays off

   A wind turbine commissioned in February 2012 at the Port of Milwaukee resulted in $5,000 net revenue for the port within the first nine months of operation, according to a recent update by the port authority and the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability.
   The Northern Power 100-kilowatt turbine provides 100 percent of the port administration building’s electricity needs with the excess sold to We Energies. The estimated annual savings to the city are $14,000 to $20,000 (at 2011 rates, revenue included).
   The turbine was manufactured in the United States, and many parts, including the tower, were made in Wisconsin. The $587,000 project received the bulk of its funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ($400,000) and $100,000 each from We Energies and the statewide Focus on Energy program, the port authority said.
   “This turbine is a demonstration of the city’s commitment to clean energy,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in a statement. “It is the first wind energy system to power a Milwaukee city building with clean, renewable electricity. This installation will benefit both the environment and taxpayers of Milwaukee.”