January 7, 2013
New Hampshire

New snowmobile route established around Groton Wind Park

By Paula Tracy, Escape Outside Editor | WMUR | Jan 07, 2013 | www.wmur.com

A new route has been established around the Groton Wind Park for snowmobilers.

The Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club, working with the state, Iberdrola Renewables and the landowners have come up with the new route on the north side of Route 25.

Iberdrola has built 24 two-magawatt wind turbines on Fletcher and Tenney Montain.

“Some of the insurance for the the wind park required us to move away from the towers. A minimum safe distance is needed from the blades and their insurance don’t allow for co-sharing, so we moved to the south and west. We do cross the park’s roads; we just don’t share them,” said Chris Gamache, head of state trails.

Sometimes wind turbines collect snow and ice, and when it breaks free of the blade, it can fly a distance and be dangerous.

Corridor 11 is a major south-north route for Grafton County. It comes up along the west side of Route 3 and intersects with Corridor 8 in Rumney along Route 25.

Today, it is in use and conditions should be good in that area, Gamache said.

“That Baker River Valley usually has some of the better snow in the state,” Gamache said.

Gamache said the cost of relocating the trail was around $30,000.

“We gave $20,000, and Iberdrola did find some money to help with some financing, in the area of $9,000,” and the club volunteer time covered the rest, he said.

The Snowdrifters will maintain the new trail, as well, using volunteers.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/07/new-snowmobile-route-established-around-groton-wind-park/