April 3, 2019
Michigan

Turbine update: No reason yet why it caught fire

By Bradley Massman Assistant Editor | Tuesday, April 2, 2019 | www.lmtonline.com

CHANDLER TOWNSHIP – There’s no cause or reason, yet, to why a wind turbine caught fire in Huron County this week.

A wind turbine at Harvest Wind II, owned by Exelon Generation, was captured on fire with black smoke emitting into the sky shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. It appeared to be actively burning near the turbine’s blades.

“There were no injuries to the public or employees,” Mark Rodgers, a manager with Exelon Generation, stated in an email to the Tribune. “First responders established a perimeter around the affected turbine, and the fire has since extinguished. Operators immediately de-energized the other Harvest Wind II turbines as a precautionary measure.”

Jeff Smith, Huron County’s building and zoning director, said in the event the wind turbine needs to be repaired, rebuilt or replaced, then his office will get involved. However, Chandler Township is self-zoned.

“They’ll (Exelon officials) be working with Chandler Township as they proceed,” Smith said. ” … They’ll be working with the township board and township planning commission.”

Smith requested to be informed of any findings as it becomes available.

“It’s going to take some time for an investigation and real cause analysis,” he said. “That’s just standard procedure when something like this happens.”

In 2016, an Exelon wind turbine collapsed in Oliver Township after experts said it “just basically shook itself apart.”

A message left with Rodgers seeking additional information was not immediately returned on Tuesday.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/04/03/turbine-update-no-reason-yet-why-it-caught-fire/