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John Deere Wind Energy is the principal owner of Harvest Wind Farm project.

The wind farm consists of 32 wind turbines, each capable of producing 1.65 megawatts of electricity, for a total capacity of 52.8 megawatts. The Harvest Wind Farm is expected to produce enough electricity to supply more than 15,000 Michigan homes.

"Wolverine Power Cooperative will be purchasing the power and electricity once the wind farm is up and running," said Wolverine Power Cooperative Director of Communications and Members Relations Nancy Tanner.

"We'll be purchasing the electricity to then serve our six member companies and their retail customers," she adds. "We'll kind of be like Thumb Electric Cooperative serves the thumb area."

The six-member companies include Cherryland Electric Cooperative in Grawn, Great Lakes Energy in Boyne City, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Portland, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-Op in Onaway, Wolverine Power Marketing Cooperative in Cadillac and Spartan Renewable Energy in Cadillac.

"We are thrilled to be involved with John Deere Wind Energy and the Harvest Wind Farm project," said Wolverine Power Cooperative President and CEO Eric Baker in a press release. "Wolverine strongly supports the development of clean, renewable energy in Michigan and thus has chosen to make a long-term financial commitment to this project."

"On behalf of the John Deere Wind Energy, I can say we're extremely happy with the project...and to be working with Wolverine Power on this," said John Deere Credit Planning and Communication Manager Jim Meenagh.

Meenagh confines some of the access roads and lay down area construction is underway with the foundations being poured later this summer.

While concerns of how much this project will cost Brown has encouraging words for people.

"I want to remind people that this is a private investors deal," adds Brown. "There's no taxpayer moneys involved."

Wolverine Power Cooperative expects to create more than 80 jobs during construction and six to ten permanent employees are needed to operate and maintain the wind farm. The Harvest Wind Farm is the first commercial-scale wind farm operating in the state.

"I think this whole project is great for our area and our economy," adds Brown. "During the construction phase workers will be here adding to our economy and when the project is finished I hope to see more people moving here and adding to our economy."

Participating property owners in Oliver Township include W.A. Herford and Sons Farm, Inc., Dale K. Schuette, Robert D. and Carolyn Krohn, William W. Herford, Robert Krohn, Sturm Farms, James Licht, Dale and Donald Schuette, Donna L. Ziel, Thomas Ziel, Clayton Rae and Helen Young, Raymond Buchholz, Randall L. and Cheryl Sturm, Edwin Licht, Adolph Einhardt, Terry J. and June M. Sturm, James Yackle, Orville Yackle, Lloyd Ziel, James Herford, Jack Schubach, Grace Herford, Gerald Krohn and a credit shelter