February 17, 2023
Illinois

Energy company confirms wind turbine collapses near Paxton

by: Noah Nelson, Scarlett O'Hara | Posted: Feb 16, 2023 | wcia.com

A leaning wind turbine in Ford County came crashing down Thursday evening. It is located just south of Route 9 near Paxton.

RWE Renewables Americas LLC confirmed they received reports the turbine collapsed Thursday evening. They say crews were not there when it happened, but were later sent to investigate the cause.

A neighbor who lives about a quarter of a mile from the turbine said the collapse sounded like a “loud rumble of thunder,” and he could feel the “vibration from the impact” from inside his home.

A different family who lives about three miles away says they heard a loud crash, or what sounded like “a shed door closing.”

Matt Tulis, a representative from RWE Renewables, says crews secured the area around the turbine for safety. They are asking people to keep a distance from the site as crews work.

Tulis called the situation “very rare,” and said nothing like this has happened on any of the other wind farms they operate across the country. He said the turbine was first reported to be leaning Wednesday morning.

The turbine is part of the Pioneer Trail Wind Farm.

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Leaning wind turbine near Paxton

by: Noah Nelson, Chance Sticklen, Arriana Williams
Posted: Feb 15, 2023 | wcia.com

A wind turbine located just south of Route 9 near Paxton is visibly leaning.
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The turbine is owned by RWE Renewables Americas LLC, and is part of the Pioneer Trail Wind Farm. Crews were there to guard the entrance to the access road. The company said they will be inspecting the turbine to see what they need to do.

They added that they have not had anything happen like this with any of their other turbines.

The turbine is back in operation but it is still leaning.

Crews will be out at the location for the next three days to figure out the cause. They advise people to stay away from the turbine until it is fixed.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/02/17/energy-company-confirms-wind-turbine-collapses-near-paxton/