Wind Turbine Construction On Our Farm (With Pictures)

[grumpy]

Sonny, I had to comment on the bird kills from the blades. Just ask em if they've ever seen any birds killed flying into a house window and could they tell ya how fast the house was moving Maybe natures way of giving out Darwin awards Grump

[cowboy]

Cool Sonny

Thanks for posting this thread. I am thinking of putting up a small wind generator. And running 12v camper lights through the house.

Thanks

Billy

[Billy Fussell]

Amen, Grumpy!!!

Billy

[SONNY]

This pic was taken here at the house about 3 weeks ago when I was diggin' up fruit trees! it was west-bound on I-74, don't know where they were headed, but I got the camera out almost too late!



We also seen some of the "super big" blades on the move too, but never could catch them!--they only haul one of them per load, this one has two! I will post some of the pics from section 1 of our Twin-Grove project! thanks; sonny

[beaconlight]

We got a red tailed hawk with our house 3 years ago. Seems it cleared the stupid genes problem Grump talked of. We haven't had gotten any since.

[SONNY]

here are some blade pics from section 1, (last year)!--got my paw prints on the parts!--couldn't resist!











I have more from last year that I will post! thanks; sonny

[SONNY]

Today we got over to the farm to see how the progress was doing!!
over in the neighbors field

this is the Westward view

Thats me standin' at the hub of one of our propellers!---Somehow I felt rather SMALL standin' there!

this was about half way down the blade

same view, different camera settin'

and the main event ----Well they don't call them "PORTA-POTTIES" for nothin'! LOL!


Thursday they will put the blades on our other one and boss invited us to come at 7 am and watch,---and of course bring cameras!

Bolt tension is 1,500 pounds per bolt, x 206 bolts!---Don't think they gonna fall!!

Movement at top of turbine is 3 feet, depending on which way the wind is blowin'---movement BEFORE propeller is installed can be 6 feet!
We have a few more pics in the other camera, but have to wait for batts. to charge so we can get them into the putter, will post them a little later! thanks; sonny

[SONNY]

Here are the pics from the other camera!
Look closely and you can see the joint towards the top of the pic

West blades on the ground!

West tower site

our Escort and the assembled East propeller

A nose cone!

general view of East site

The dog house that goes on the top rear of the nacelle


Today was kinda muddy and cloudy, but we wanted to get an update for you!--thanks; sonny

[beaconlight]

Thanks Sonny.

[Don McCombs]

Hey Sonny,

Do they have those windmills spinning in all this wind yet?

[SONNY]

They have most of the 240 turbines spinnin'!!---last 3 are to be "topped off" the middle of this month! I wanted to get pics of the big crane, but it's been below zero here with a little snow, lots of wind so don't know if the crane is moved in yet or not. They have to take it apart to move it this time as it finished up 4 miles away from us and is too far to drive it!
Weather is supposed to warm up a little towards the end of the week so I am watching my chance to go see how they are progressing! thanks; sonny

[Joe Malinowski]

Thanks for the pictures that is amazing can't wait for more.

[Eugene]

From "Missouri Resources", Winter 2008 issue.

"At Bluegrass Ridge, each landwoner allowing a tower on his or her land receives an annual lease payment of $3000 per turbine." "In the next year the wind farm will pay property taxes of more than $500,000 to Gentry County." There are a total of 27 turbines on this wind farm near King City, Missouri.

The dollar figures were the only ones provided in the article. Just my opinion. Leasing out a portion of your farm for a wind turbine would sure beat getting $17- to $27- an acre for pasture land.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Are those used blades that were brought in form another site? In the pictures they appear to have rust on thme. Or is that mud?

[SONNY]

Today was a historic day for us!!!---Turbines up!! Temps right around zero, but we managed to get some pics of the very last turbine of the 240 going up! (ours were the last 2)
This is the completed East turbine!--Virginia took it's picture so it wouldn't feel left out!

completed turbine (last one of the entire project)

There!

Almost there

propeller going up

Propeller just off the ground

Nacelle up, ready for propeller


Picks are kind of not in order but at least you can follow what is happening!
We have more pics. to post in another batch or 2 and have some of the crane bottom (its hidden behind the dirt pile in these pics).
Enjoy these while we work on processing another batch! thanks; sonny