The wind turbines are turning once again after the completion of foundation improvements, a project that started back in 2015.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
HAMBLETON – Folks have been asking about the wind turbines on the top of Backbone Mountain because they noticed they had been still for a number of weeks. A call by the Parsons Advocate to Mountaineer Wind Energy Center owner NextEra Energy Resources, out of Florida, was promptly returned by NextEra Director of Communications Steven Stengel.
“The project to improve the foundation of the 44 wind turbines started back in 2015,” Stengel said. “We took the turbines off line while we completed the improvements to the foundations, a step to enhance each of the individual turbines.”
Stengel said the reason no one noticed the windmills were off line until recently is because the ones closest to the road were the last to go off line and have the upgrades completed.
“As of last Friday, all of the work has been completed and all are back working,” Stengel said.
The Mountaineer Wind Energy Center turbines on Backbone Mountain are 14 years old. Stengel said when they were constructed the standard for the foundation was the best at the time.
“The foundation designs being used today is very different than 14 years ago,” he said. “We intend for the wind turbines to operate for many years to come, so we decided to take them down, a few at a time, and improve the structure of the foundations, making sure they will last for a long time.”
The Mountaineer Wind Energy Center turbines are owned by NextEra Energy Resources in Florida. Stengel said the center has been a successfully operating project for the last 14 years.
“We are currently looking at some other opportunities in the state, but have no details to report at the current time,” Stengel said.
A fact sheet about the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center and how the turbines work is available online at http://www.nexteraenergyresources.com/pdf_redes
