Jason and I thought this was really cool and worth mentioning.  Thursday morning we were heading to a client’s house out Atlantic Blvd. and just as we were about to pass Craig Air Field, we looked to the right to see these three sculptures spinning in the wind.  Our first thought was one of the car dealers had put up some spinning advertising and had not put the advertising on yet.  These three things were really whipping in the wind and finally we realized that this advertising was actually renewable energy.  On the way back, we stopped to see what these things really were.  The turbines were seemingly of exceptional design and quality.  A sign that stated another quality job by Erickson Energy sparked a call to the number on the sign.  We found out Erickson Energy is located at 2804 St. Johns Bluff and they invited us over to their offices to talk about the spires.

At Erickson Energy we met Frank Erickson Owner and President along with Kenneth Massey of Coastal Atlantic Contractors, a general contractor in charge of the construction side of the business.  Both of these gentlemen seemed  very passionate about their renewable energy products and the company they are in the process of building together.

The wind turbines are made by Mariah Power in Reno Nevada.  In December 2008, Mariah Power signed a contract for its first high volume manufacturing site in partnership with MasTech Manufacturing of Manistee, Michigan.  MasTech is a manufacturing and material handling specialist and was able to retrofit a former auto parts factory to accommodate manufacturing for the Windspire wind turbine. This plant will create 120 jobs over the next three years.  The plant began production in April of 2009. In January 2009, a Windspire wind turbine was prominent at President Obama’s Inauguration festivities on Capitol Hill and was also on display in Detroit, Michigan, at the North American International Auto Show, demonstrating its uses as an electric car charging station.  Another interesting point to mention is that the turbines are manufactured from 80% recycled material.

Pictures from the approx. 10800 block of Atlantic Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 1.21.2010