Google Earth- Hunting for needles in a haystack

Now let me tell you of an adventure we have had to take.  Given all the available information on the wide web, our assignment is to locate a place along the Great Lakes to put a "wind farm".  Now this seems quite small at first. However, given the perimeters of the now defunct BERR from the UK, it was harder than it sounded.   

1- Needs wind speed of at least 6m/s.
2- Not within a conservation zone. It creates too much social flack to get one approved. In addition, birds and bats have issues with tall structures, lights and moving objects in their paths.
3- Not within the shipping lanes.
4- Preferably in a field, wide zone.
5- Not within a residential zone for noise perimeters.  Upon researching, the original buffer was 300 meters.  There has been recent US legislation which has widened this to 1km. 

I found a location near Freda, Michigan. Pinned a field in google earth, named Freda MI Site, a couple of miles north at  47 10' 03.28"N/ 88 44'12.97"W, elevation 763 feet.


This one had great wind speed, was not located in a conservation zone, was outside of shipping lanes and has an open area of 68 square acres.  I was pleased to find it was not directly in any major recognized migratory flyways, which was a tremendous deal killer for several sites I was scouting.    The hesitation is there are a few houses in the area which may be the final determining factor. 

Freda, MI

 The caption inside which did not show up says " Freda MI Site
Freda, Michigan  " This site has an average wind speed at 80m of 6m/s to 7/ms. At 100m it averages over 7m/s, which makes it a windy location. It is not in a protected conservation zone and is outside of the shipping lanes. The open area is 68 sq ares with few dwellings around it."


Enjoying looking.  Karen