BRING on the GREEN!

Metro may get lottery games, turbines

By KATHERINE YUNG

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Detroit Metro Airport may soon gain two new features: lottery games and small wind turbines.

On Nov. 17, the Wayne County Airport Authority board is likely to approve a licensing agreement with the Michigan Bureau of State Lot tery that would enable travel ers at Metro to play a number of state lottery games, such as instant tickets, Mega Millions and Club Keno.

The games would be avail able at gates, baggage claim areas, sit-down bars and other locations throughout the Mc Namara and North Terminals, with staffed lottery redemption points of service provided by selected airport retailers.

Airport officials estimate the lottery agreement will gen erate $360,000 annually or $1.8 million over the initial 5 year contract term, as well as revenues for the state. Lottery games are already offered by a few other airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta In ternational Airport.

Metro could also soon start generating its own wind power.

Airport officials are seeking approval from the authority board to purchase five Windspire wind turbines.

Three of the 30-foot-tall turbines would be installed at the airport’s north entrance, near the intersection of Rogell Drive and Burton Drive.

Two others would be at the airport’s south entrance, near the south cell phone lot off of Eureka Road.

The small turbines, which are made in Manistee by Mas Tech Manufacturing, would not violate Metro’s airspace regulations.