2 years later, turbines still blink
Staff writer
Two years after a press release stated that blinking lights on Orsted Sunflower Wind Turbines would be resolved soon, the lights are still blinking.
County Commissioner Clarke Dirks wants to know why and came up with a solution Monday that no one took seriously.
“If we just fined them $500 for every blinking windmill, we could pay for the new Peabody ambulance road and bridge station,” he said.
The new station is on the county’s to do list, and commissioners listened Monday to options from David Arteberry with Stifel, Nicolaus and Co. Monday on how to pay for it.
The wind farm is the first in the state to use radar to detect when small aircraft are around and turn on lights only then.
Charlotte Bellotte, a spokesman for Orsted, said after the meeting that when the project was completed two years ago, technological issues with the radar technology arose.
Of 76 turbines at Sunflower Wind farm there are 14 still having issues, she said.
Tuesday night, the Record drove Sunflower Rd. to check the flashing lights. Some were flashing, but not all were. Neither 14 nor 76 appeared to be an accurate number.
She added bad weather in the area also cause all the turbines to light up.
She’s uncertain when the 14 turbines still flashing will have the radar technology installed to work properly.
“I can’t say when, but we have been working on this for several months,” she said.
Lighting control modules will be replaced.
Former commissioner Dianne Novak, who attended Monday’s meeting, said that regulations are not being followed by Orsted.
Wind Farm opponent Tom Britain said 18 windmills 2,000 feet from his house were constantly blinking.
“I can see all 18 of them. I hate the whole thing,” Britain said. “The county destroyed my property.”
He said the county could have pursued more beneficial projects.
“It would have saved $35 million in tax credits if Orsted had not been approved,” Britain said. “It’s an ongoing problem,” he added.