October 9, 2013
Minnesota

Willmar wind turbines continue to be out of service

David Little | West Central Tribune | October 8, 2013 | www.wctrib.com

WILLMAR – The Willmar Municipal Utilities’ two wind turbines continue to be out of service due to 15-kilovolt electrical breaker problems, Wesley Hompe, utilities general manager, said today.

Hompe said that Willmar Utilities has been in contact with turbine manufacturer DeWind Co.’s service center in Oklahoma City as well as the vice president of maintenance to find out what the status of the repairs is.

Hompe said DeWind has created a plan to repair the breakers and get them back into service as soon as possible.

Both turbines have the same problem with the high-voltage switch at the base of each tower. The repair work is covered under an extended warranty with DeWind.

In mid-September, the utility sent a letter to DeWind requesting $254,354 in warranty payments for three years of lost electrical production due to breakdowns and repairs.

The turbines were constructed just north of Willmar Senior High School and were commissioned Sept. 6, 2009.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/09/willmar-wind-turbines-continue-to-be-out-of-service/