Invenergy Responds re: California Ridge Turbine Failure –

OAKWOOD, IL. (ECWd) –

I contacted the Director of Communications at Invenergy this morning and asked them to comment on the Oakwood Turbine failure and their plan on lighting the warning lights during power outages.

They responded by declining to comment on the warning light question and provided the below statement on the turbine failure:

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Statement re: California Ridge Wind Project

Thursday, November 21, 2013

“At approximately 9 p.m. CST last night (Wednesday, November 20), a blade on a turbine at our California Ridge Wind Project broke off and fell to the ground near the base of the turbine.  This occurred at the facility’s 134^th unit, located near the intersection of 2150 North Road and 900 East Road in the town of Oakwood, in Vermilion County.  We believe that as this blade fell, it hit a second blade on the same turbine, causing that second blade also to break off and fall to the ground near the base.

As designed, the turbine automatically ceased operation.  No one was injured.

We are working with GE, the turbine manufacturer, to determine the cause of this incident.”

About the California Ridge Wind Project

Location:  Champaign County (north of the town of Royal and south of the town of Penfield) and Vermilion County (north of the town of Oakwood and south of the villages of Gifford and Potomac).  

Status:  In Operation

Commercial Operation Date:  2012

Megawatts:   217.1

Turbines: 134 GE 1.6 MW wind turbines

• # of turbines in Champaign County:  30
• # of turbines in Vermilion County:  104

About the GE 1.6 MW wind turbine:

• 100-meter hub height (from the base to the turbine’s hub)
• 150 meters from base to blade tip (meaning, if a blade is facing straight up in the air)
• 100-meter rotor diameter

Media Contact:   Alissa Krinsky, Director of Communications

[email protected] or 312-582-1554