Kumeyaay wind farm idled by turbine fire
Credit: By Morgan Lee | San Diego Union-Tribune | Dec. 17, 2013 | www.utsandiego.com ~~
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The Kumeyaay Wind farm that supplies electricity to San Diego has been idled indefinitely after a fire heavily damaged one its 25 turbines, officials at the Campo Indian Reservation said Tuesday.
Shortly after noon on Monday, drivers on Interstate 8 caught sight of a flaming, smoking turbine near Campo’s Golden Acorn Casino, about 40 miles east of San Diego.
Fire burned through the turbine nacelle, the motor located where turbine blades converge, and sparked a small brush fire that was extinguished by fire crews.
Infigen Energy, which owns of the turbine array under a land-lease agreement with the Campo Kumeyaay Nation, said Tuesday it currently had no information about the cause of the fire.
Kelly Kimberly, a spokeswoman for the Australia-based company with U.S. headquarters in Dallas, expressed appreciation to local fire crews for their “prompt and efficient response.” No injuries were reported.
The wind farm, which started operating in 2005, is estimated to produce enough power to supply 30,000 homes. San Diego Gas & Electric buys the power under a long-term contract whose terms have not been made public.
The wind farm’s Gamesa-brand turbines underwent extensive repairs after blades were damaged in a December 2010 storm with gusts topping 70 mph.
A view of the Kumeyaay Wind farm, Campo Indian Reservation, in the hours after a turbine caught fire. – Jim Pelley
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