PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

Project construction is expected to take six to ten months to complete. Construction mobilization will be determined by the power market opportunity.

Site Preparation
The site will be thoroughly surveyed to layout the project. Then dirt roads will be run to planned turbine locations to provide access for construction equipment and cranes. The earth is already hard packed in this area so limited work will be required. The roads will be designed in such a way as to limit the amount of areas disturbed and appropriate measures will be taken to reduce dust and erosion.

Foundations
Earth will be excavated and filled with rebar to prep for turbine foundations. Foundations will be inverted-T foundations meaning that viewed from the side, they are shaped like an upside down T with the bottom of the turbine tower running straight down underground into the foundation with the cement foundation flaring out underground to provide stability. This structure reduces the size of the foundation at the surface, reducing the area disturbed and allowing grazing or other activities to run right up to the foundation.

Turbine Erection
First towers are installed on the foundations using large cranes. The towers are made of steel plate rolled into a conical subsection. Towers are assembled from these smaller, conical subsections which are then cut and rolled into the right shape, and then welded together.. Tower welds are inspected using ultrasound or x-ray devices.

The nacelles which contain the key components of the wind turbine including the gearbox and generator, are placed on top of the turbine tower.

Post-construction approximately 2% to 5% of the land is taken out of grazing use.  Livestock typically graze up to and near the base of the turbines.

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