How does a wind farm work?

Utility scale wind farms work by capturing the kinetic energy of wind with turbine blades. The energy produced by each turbine is collected in a substation owned by the local utility company who then distributes that energy into the regional electrical grid system.

How tall will the turbines be?

The turbines used in this project will depend partly on the recorded wind speeds in the area. Typically, turbines currently used in utility scale wind projects range from ~340 – 500 ft in hub height (distance from the ground to the turbine’s rotor)[1].

Will there be fences placed around the perimeter of the project?

Typically, no. Activities can take place all the way up to the base of each turbine. Cattle can graze, hay can grow, etc. An exception is the project substation, which will be fenced for safety reasons and to avoid interference with the facility.

How will the land be restored after construction?

The Project has experts on staff who manage federal, state, and county environmental and land conservation requirements. Temporary laydown areas and ditches along newly built roads will be managed until vegetation has been restored. During construction, special care is taken to avoid erosion and other land degradation by employing mitigation strategies that include silt fences, straw wattle installation, and soil tracking. Existing topsoil is kept on site as much as possible and returned to its home after roads, cables, and turbine bases are installed. Soil in areas adjacent to excavation is de-compacted, reseeded, and stabilized until the site is restored.

 

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/wind-turbines-bigger-better