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Turbine Collapses, Wiring Blamed
By KATE GALBRAITH Local television coverage, including this YouTube clip from WPTZ TV in upstate New York, suggested that nearby residents were questioning turbine safety after the collapse. A “wiring anomaly” was blamed for the collapse earlier this month of a wind turbine near Altona, N.Y., according to Noble Environmental Power, the operator of the wind park. The 1.5 megawatt turbine, made by General Electric, broke apart on March 6th, and caused a small fire on the ground, as seen in this video from the local NBC affiliate, WPTZ. According to press reports, the park had experienced a power outage at the time, but two of the 65 turbines malfunctioned and continued to spin at speeds faster than the machines are designed to sustain — until one eventually collapsed. http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/12/officials-looking-for-answers-after-wind-turbine-collapse/ New York State’s Public Service Commission investigators are trying to figure out why a wind turbine collapsed last week in upstate Clinton County. The Albany Times Union reports that Noble Environmental Power, which owns the 65-turbine Altona Wind Park, and turbine maker General Electric Co. found “wiring anomalies” prevented two turbines from shutting down as they are supposed to during a power outage. One tower collapsed in a fiery heap, starting a small fire on the ground. The other was damaged but remained standing. Debris was scattered as far as a quarter-mile away, the paper reported. WPTZ has video with images of the collapsed turbine. There were no reported injuries. The incident is believed to be the first collapse of a turbine in New York. The PSC would like G.E. and Noble to share information from their investigation with the agency. Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/12tPW |
