Saturday, August 08, 2009
 
sponsored by Graue Inc.

Wind taking a place in the energy industry

Part 1: Rail Splitter Wind Farm begins electrical production

Send a link to a friend

[August 08, 2009]  When the wind blows in Logan County, it now has more value. Everyone with an interest in wind power and its many benefits is celebrating as the Rail Splitter Wind Farm project nears completion. One by one the brakes are being loosed and turbine blades are beginning to spin. That mechanical energy is transformed into electricity that's now being sent to the open market.

The bright spot in using wind as an everyday energy source is that it is renewable and has no emissions that threaten the environment. It also reduces dependency on foreign oil. Harnessed locally, it provides jobs that contribute to the economy, added income for landowners and increased property tax income that supports rural schools and roads.

Rail Splitter was developed by Horizon Wind Energy, a subsidiary of the world's fourth- largest wind generation company, Energias de Portugal, SA (EDP.LS). Of the 67-turbine farm that spans 18,000 acres, 29 of the turbines occupy land in northern Logan County and 38 of its turbines are in Tazewell County.

The construction phase for the Logan County portion began in November, after Tazewell's, and was completed in May.

Project manager Bill Whitlock explained that the final phase of activating each turbine is a gradual process that began in June. "Our goal is to become commissioned and commercially operational as quickly as possible. The crews are out there working diligently to do that," he said.

Before a turbine is commissioned there is a two-phase full inspection. For one, the turbine has an all-over mechanical inspection. There is also a mechanical inspection and testing of the electrical components in each turbine.

Electricity first flows from the turbines through underground cables to a project substation. From that substation it needs to get to an interconnect substation that can put it onto the grid, which goes to the open market.

A portion of the project this spring was to develop those connections. Horizon had to construct about 11 miles of overhead transmission lines connecting the project substation to the closest interconnect substation, which is located north of San Jose.

While Whitlock did not know the exact number of turbines that are operational, because it changes every day, he could say that as of right now some turbines are producing electricity that's being put out on the grid. He was confident in saying "they all should be fully commissioned and operational in August."

[to top of second column]

Auto Sales

It was in February 2007, at the Logan County Soil and Water Conservation's annual dinner, that the project was first publicly announced. Site research was in the second of a three-year wind study. Already project managers were beginning work on the mammoth checklist of other required studies and processes needed for permits and contracts. Once wind tests came back with favorable reports, things really began to move. Identifying properties and getting tentative landowner contracts commenced. The company also began work on getting the necessary licenses, permits and zoning amendments from local, state and federal agencies. With all approvals and contracts in hand, the complex dance of readying sites for the construction phase was ready to begin. It was then November 2008.

Even with all the wet, icy, nasty weather that Mother Nature could dish up this past winter, and then record-breaking spring rains, the project has still come in on time.

"We're all very pleased and gratified that the Rail Splitter project is now almost complete," Whitlock said. "We believe this project is going to provide the community with a lot of benefits for many, many years to come."

[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]

More information of interest

Past related articles

< Top Stories index

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching and Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law and Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health and Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor