Blasted blade is gone with the wind
Staff writer
As sheriff’s deputies watched from a safe distance in case anything went badly, a blade on a Sunflower Wind turbine was blasted off Friday.
The turbine had quit working after it was struck by lightning during a snowstorm last winter.
County commissioner Clarke Dirks told other commissioners Friday morning that the blade had been held together with what appeared to be duct tape after being struck by lightning and that if it was exploded, it would spread toxic substances in the vicinity.
Representatives of turbine owner Sunflower Wind later disputed that claim.
Deputy Clayton Philpott was parked Friday at the end of a wind farm access road from 120th Rd.
He said the county had been told the blade would fall in a single piece and pointed out a replacement blade near the turbine.
Sunflower owner Orsted told the county that 93% of the blade was recyclable and it would be used as a component of concrete used to build roads.
“Wind turbine blades at Sunflower Wind Farm are primarily constructed from composite materials, including fiberglass and resin, with balsa wood and metals incorporated for additional strength and functionality,” Charlotte Bellotte, Orstead communications adviser, said Friday. “The fiberglass and resin used in blades are considered non-toxic, with fiberglass being a stable material that does not release harmful substances into the environment during normal use.
“The resins are cured and hardened during manufacturing, minimizing the risk of chemical leaching or emissions, ensuring environmental and human safety.
“This non-toxic nature is beneficial in other applications, such as surfboards, skis, and hockey sticks, where safety and durability are paramount. The balsa wood and metals (steel, aluminum, and copper) are also non-toxic and safe to human and environment health.”
Bellotte said the company had conferred with Kansas Department of Health and Environment and adhered to stringent safety standards in removing the blade.
The blade will be sectioned down and placed in a high-sided transport by wind energy demolition company Wind Decom.
“Debris will be cleaned up and removed from site with the larger sections of the blade,” Bellotte said. “The sections of blade and debris will be taken to Renewable Energy Recyclers Corp. in Garden City. The blade will be ground down into aggregate for asphalt, concrete, and a new building material.”
Bellotte said Orsted would work with the landowner to reseed and reclaim land to its original state.
Dirks was on hand at 6 p.m. Friday when the blade was exploded. He said that it fell straight to the ground and that half to two-thirds of it disintegrated before the remainder tipped and fell to the east.
The disintegration no doubt spread small pieces of turbine blade on the ground, he said.
“Unfortunately, when we got there Monday afternoon, there was water still running from the rain,” Dirks said.