May 3, 2011
North Dakota

Wind turbine safety questions

KXMCTV Minot, www.kxnet.com 3 May 2011

Three wind turbine failures in the past couple of months, including two in the past week, are causing some concern.

Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer says there are still a lot of unknowns in the wind energy industry. Cramer says while wind energy has been around for quite some time, the technology is always changing.

He says new technology is still very much in the experimental stage. That’s why Cramer says it’s important that the PSC and energy experts use these failures as learning tools.

For example, the failure north of Wilton Monday was the result of a blade crumbling under the elements.

Cramer says he hopes more failures can be avoided by monitoring manufacturing and assembly more closely.

(Kevin Cramer/ PSC) “We are kinda of a wind energy mecca because we have a lot of wind but we have to remember that with wind comes volatile of environment so all of this is kind of in a testing stage and while we have cited them we feel the set backs are strong enough to protect the public but know we have enough experience to take a retrospective look.”

Cramer says the PSC will continue to look into the wind industry, and most importantly, its saftey.

So far none of the failures in the state has caused any injuries.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/03/wind-turbine-safety-questions/