October 10, 2017
Michigan

Blade breaks on DTE turbine

Brenda Battel, Tribune Staff Writer, Monday, October 9, 2017 michigansthumb.com

SIGEL TOWNSHIP – A blade broke on a DTE Energy wind turbine Saturday night at the Sigel Wind Park around 6:30 p.m. on Minden Road south of Section Line Road.

“An automated safety system shut down the turbine immediately,” said Cynthia Hecht, senior communications specialist with DTE. “There were no injuries or property damage.”

“Maintenance personnel have been on site since (Saturday) evening to secure equipment and are investigating the cause of the incident,” she said in an email on Sunday afternoon.

Part of the blade appeared to be detached from the turbine between Learman and Kipper Roads. No one remained on site at 11 a.m. Monday, but the path to the turbine had been blocked by orange cones.

Hecht added: “Modern wind turbine technology is very safe and blade failures are rare. As Michigan’s largest producer of renewable energy, DTE has been operating wind turbines since 2009 without any injuries while providing customers with energy that is safe, reliable, affordable and clean.”

Hecht identified the broken turbine as Sigel 36.

Photos: Brenda Battel/Huron Daily Tribune

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/10/10/dte-wind-turbine-blade-breaks/