As the nation turns to alternative energy, wind power is a growing source. And many have noticed that the Great Lakes are a steady source of wind.

On Jan. 14, the Wisconsin Public Utilities Commission is expected to approve the final draft of a report studying the feasibility of offshore wind turbines on Lakes Michigan and Superior.

“Off-shore wind projects in the Great Lakes have the potential to produce power on a larger scale, and thus more economically, than terrestrial wind projects due to the presence of more robust and consistent off-shore winds,” states the draft report.

“Off-shore projects can potentially take advantage of larger turbines than could be used on land, because it may be easier to transport the turbine components to the project site. Finally, off-shore projects may produce fewer concerns about interfering with existing land uses.”

But, as the report notes, many logistics need to be worked out.

Offshore windmills have proved successful in Europe, but none in places where the water freezes over.

Lake Superior, the roughest and deepest of the Great Lakes, is the least feasible.

“Superior will be the last lake to get offshore wind,” said Jeff Gosse, Midwest regional wind coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Superior has a steeper drop-off than the other lakes, making turbines that rest on the lake bottom more difficult, he said.

Also Superior’s shores are less populated than the other great lakes, and the transmission capacity of existing lines is not yet up to handling power from offshore turbines.

“Much of the transmission near Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline is 34.5 kilovolt because it is an area of the state that has lower load and historically slower growth,” the draft report states.

On land, however, there are better possibilities. Communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin are assessing windmills on their shores.

Minnesota’s North Shore is a better source of wind than previously thought, concluded a year-long study completed last fall by the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Center for Sustainable Community Development.

Center director Mike Mageau was skeptical of wind maps produced by the Minnesota Department of Commerce that showed wind by the lake registering at a low average of 10-12 miles per hour. Gauges were mounted on communication and fire towers in seven areas from Duluth to Grand Portage, and monitored by students.

The data revealed higher average winds, especially in Finland (17 mph), Hovland (17.4 mph) and Grand Portage (16-19 mph).

Mageau doubts large scale development will occur, given limitations: the region’s low transmission capacity, interference with bird migratory routes and the likelihood that residents and tourists will not appreciate large turbines dotting the landscape.

But the study has piqued the interest of several communities and businesses.

“My gut feeling is people are ready to invest in this,” said George Wilkes, owner of the Angry Trout restaurant in Grand Marais. Wilkes is part the Cook County Local Energy Project, a citizens group that formed last April to promote local alternative energy sources including wind power.

“We’re in the very beginning stage. It will take three to five years to get this going,” he said.

Both the Lutsen Resort and Grand Portage Casino are considering putting up their own wind turbines.

Meanwhile, the city of Silver Bay is looking at alternative energy to power its industrial park on Lake Superior’s shore. Wind power, biomass and recovering excess steam from the Northshore Mining plant in Silver Bay all are under consideration.

“We’re looking at turning it into an eco-industrial park,” said city administrator Lana Fralich.

To finance a study the city has submitted a grant application to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Iron Range Resources already has agreed to add $12,500 to the state’s $50,000 if the grant is approved.