Students see energy production as an alternative use for GM plant
JANESVILLE — The Janesville GM plant is a rare commodity. It's a monster.
The size of the plant was what struck a group of Janesville Craig High School students who were asked to dream up a new use for the plant.
They came up with wind turbines.
Wind turbines are monsters, too. Some are as tall as a football field is long.
And they'd fit inside the GM plant quite nicely, the students figured.
The students—seniors Kyle Hathorn and Elizabeth Reidenbach and sophomores Ally Marshick and Alex Andrews—are students in Andrew Udell's Introduction to Engineering and Design class.
The class is a part of Project Lead the Way, which promotes careers in science, technology engineering and math. Project Lead the Way tries to garner Legislative support each year in Madison, and the Craig class was among those invited to present its ideas at the Capitol in April.
The students found that different parts of the turbines are made in different places. They checked the dimensions of those plants and calculated that the Janesville plant has enough space to manufacture everything under one roof.
Not only that, but the plant is in a good location to supply some of the prime wind-power sites in the country, the students said. That includes the Plains states and the Great Lakes, where winds blow unimpeded by hills or buildings.
Turbines out in the Great Lakes wouldn't be subject to hurricanes, and they'd be less likely to become targets of terrorists than the turbines proposed for the country's ocean coastal waters, the students suggested.
When they made that point to Rep. Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, he seemed impressed, saying he'd never heard that before, Udell said.
The plant has great access to the Interstate system, "and the railroad runs right to GM," Hathorn noted.
Sheridan welcomed the students with open arms, Udell said. "He made them feel like the most important people in the Capitol that day."
Some fault the big wind turbines for potentially killing migrating birds, but Andrews thinks that's not a real problem.
"More birds fly into buildings in Chicago than wind turbines," he said. "The environmental impact is slim to none."
Wind turbines could even be set up at the Janesville plant, supplying the energy to produce more turbines, Andrews said.
"I think it's cool," Marshick said of wind technology. "I think it's going to save the planet in the long run."
Jun 6, 2009 at 8:36 a.m.
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Snarly~~> You can't sum every gm/uaw worker into one group! There were PLENTY of HARD WORKING people there who LOST THEIR JOBS! And are now wondering what is going to happen when their benefits run out, people like my parents. It pisses me off to think that everyone in this town thinks that all of the gm/uaw workers are the scum/drunks of the city. Honestly, get your butt down there and work for a day or two, and we'll see how well you can handle it. I'm so sick and tired of people complaining about a few gm/uaw workers that have ruined the reputation.
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Janesville GM is one of THREE plants in the running to make a small vehicle, will this happen??? They are NOT sure yet, Orion doesn't have as much as Janesville does, so that puts Janesville above them. When will they make their decision? In approx. 60-90 days. If this does happen, good for GM! It will bring jobs back, and they do plan to hire, so that's a positive thing! Sorry for venting, but this is MY OPINION, and how I FEEL about the way people look at ALL gm/uaw employees, instead of looking at the few that do ruin it for others.
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Good job for the Craig Highschool kids. But in all reality, I don't think that will happen anytime soon w/ Gm owning the plant still, as Janesvillean said.
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I know that any water parks, fairgrounds, or race tracks, etc would take YEARS to build. That place is full of polution that would take forever to clean up,so I do not think that is in the plans for quite some time.
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As far as Ken goes....it's really to bad that he passed :( He had some great ideas, and did so much for everyone. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times the November before his death, he was such a sweet man. Dianne was very kind as well.
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Let's all just hope that something good will come out of the GM plant whether it be the small vehicles, or wind turbines.......
Jun 5, 2009 at 8:53 p.m.
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I think that these high school students have some good ideas! Maybe with a little help it could become more then just an idea.
Jun 5, 2009 at 5:20 p.m.
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Hay did the kids ask the mighty UAW on this issue O thats right the plant is closed BUT it is on stand by so all the people that worked there can have a little hope of getting the gravy train back. Hope the kids got an A+ on the paper. O and by the way i was at a local bar and heard the same drunk GM/UAW worker say he had the in side scoop that the plant will open with the new car line.
Jun 5, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.
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What bizarre conclusions some people reach. We can't go green because wind turbines aren't perfect yet? What if we'd waited a hundred years for the perfect steam engine -- there would have been no industrial revolution. We can't go green because oil economies would collapse? I assure you they will only do better as demand increases from China, India, and elsewhere, with diminishing supplies going for ever more exorbitant per-barrel prices, which we will happily not be paying.
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The simple fact is that GM still owns the plant. Any company would have to have title and would need TIF guarantees and such before even attracting significant investors. Even the Hendricks Group would probably like to see the economy improve before putting money into manufacturing right now.
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The point is that this is a great idea of the type that may be needed. We should be open to innovation among all the possibilities so that Janesville will have the best future outcome. Negativity that rejects things because they could "never" happen is the last thing we need.
Jun 5, 2009 at 2:52 p.m.
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Agreed Coach!
Jun 5, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
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Hey, let's get back on topic. High school kids thinking outside the box, and coming up with solutions. Great job!!!!! The idea of producing all parts in one plant would also save a lot of money for the company on shipping to assembly. Here is the first non-car idea I have heard for the plant, and it comes from high schoolers. Let's not ignore it just because of that, let's embrace it. GREAT JOB!!!
Jun 5, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
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make sure the taxpayer has no say in it and make sure it costs multi millions of dollars that aren't available. it is laughable. maybe obama will throw some gov stimulus cash at it. i say, build volts.
Jun 5, 2009 at 10:27 a.m.
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No one has considered mentioning the pollution that we are all sure exists on that site that would have to be cleaned up prior to anything being there. That building has been around in one form or another since 1900 when tractors were produced there. How much pollution do you think is in that ground? 108 years of manufacturing vehicles there, good luck.
Jun 5, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.
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Anything would be an improvement to just sitting there!!! I like the idea of using it for the Rock County Fairgrounds!!
Jun 5, 2009 at 10:02 a.m.
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Ideally, we all want something that will put people to work - secure, good-paying jobs that allow people to support families. If that doesn't happen, then tear it all down and build the following through public/private partnerships:
1. Rock County Fairgrounds
2. Sports complex suitable for hosting local, state and regional competitions that will bring millions in tourism dollars (sports to include baseball, softball, soccer, football, lacrosse, disc golf, etc.
3. Outdoor (and indoor?) waterpark and aquatics facility (wave pools, lazy river, slides, zero-depth pools, and much more)
4. Race track (maybe?) as part of the fairgrounds
5. Ice arena (multi-purpose facility that is suitable for other events such as small trade shows/conventions, roller hockey, basketball, and other fieldhouse-type activities)
Such a facility could still support wind-generated energy production, provided it is cost-efficient to do so. Perhaps the energy could be used to create a "green" complex that supports all of these uses...
This would certainly give a lot of people oppportunities for employment.
Note: my opinions and comments are in no way connected to the local ski team
Jun 5, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
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I'm sure the Hendricks family are wise to the flawed design and uslessness of the wind turbines of today. The future of alternitive power (Green) is far from ever being a reality in our life time. Think about it. What happens to such oil producing countries as Russia, Mexico and Venezuela. If the US and EU go GREEN these second world government economies will collapse and lead to anarchy. It's never going to happen just like we'll never "Drill Here Drill Now".
But, a cute project anyways for the students.
Jun 4, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.
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Perhaps his daughter, Kendra, would invest to continue her father's legacy.
Jun 4, 2009 at 7:19 p.m.
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Yes, he would have. He would have probably found a way to make it happen too.
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