City of Milwaukee Wind Turbine
The City of Milwaukee's Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO), formerly Office of Environmental Sustainability, and the Port of Milwaukee partnered to install a Northern Power 100 KW wind turbine at the Port's administration building near the shore of lake Michigan. The turbine provides more than 100% of the electricity needs of the administration building. Since the installation on February 27, 2012, the wind turbine has generated over 1,113,000 kwh of clean power and saved over $100,000 in energy costs (as of 6/2019).
"This turbine is a demonstration of the city's commitment to clean energy. 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." - Mayor Tom Barrett
Wind Turbine is Important Symbol of City's Clean Energy Future
February 27, 2020 will mark the eighth anniversary of energy generation at the Port of Milwaukee’s wind turbine. Not only is the wind turbine an important symbol of Milwaukee's clean energy future, it is paying annual dividends on the tax payers’ investment. In fact, the turbine has far exceeded our initial estimates in clean energy production and savings to the City! Since many of the components and all of the installation services were sourced from Wisconsin firms, the wind turbine also demonstrates that every dollar we invest in renewable energy in Wisconsin, is a dollar invested in a job for a Wisconsinite.
The electricity generated by the wind turbine exceeds the electricity used at the Port Administration building while providing surplus clean power back to the grid. To date, the turbine has generated over 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity. And, we have avoided releasing over 747 metric tons of carbon dioxide into our air. As a result, Milwaukee’s Port Administration building is the first City of Milwaukee municipal facility that is a "net zero" electric energy user! For example, in just one year, the surplus electricity created over $13,000 in revenue for the City in addition to $6,000 in electricity savings. Since electricity rates continue to rise, the payback on the wind turbine will accelerate.
Milwaukee’s wind turbine is part of the City’s initiative to reduce energy use and increase renewable energy projects on City facilities. ECO is currently planning additional solar energy projects to complement this renewable energy source.