February 20, 2016
Michigan
Michigan
Turbine blade separation reported in Sigel Township
Ralph Iden | Fri, 19 Feb 2016 | thumbnet.net
Ralph Iden | Fri, 19 Feb 2016 | thumbnet.net
DTE Wind Energy crews are on the scene of a blade separation at the Sigel Township wind park near the corner of Section Line and Finkel Roads.
Spokesperson Jennifer Wilt said the access road to Sigel Wind Turbine Number 29 has been closed but traffic on the two roads is not affected. No one was injured when one blade fell off the turbine at about 3:15 p.m. The land owner notified the Wind Energy crews. Cause of the incident has not been determined.
Wilt said the team’s first priority is safety and security. When necessary steps have been taken to satisfy those needs, the investigation into the cause will begin.
The wind turbines are designed to shut down automatically which Sigel 29 did. The shutdown will have no impact on the company’s ability to meet the State 10 percent renewable energy requirement.
Sigel Wind Park is one of three which comprise the Thumb Wind Park. The other two are McKinley and Minden.
Photographs submitted to WLEW News by Kelly Zurek appears to show that at least a portion of the blade did not fall to the ground but instead partially wrapped around the turbine possibly damaging the turbine housing.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/02/20/turbine-blade-separation-reported-in-sigel-township/