Wind farm mishap draws regulators

ALBANY -- After a fiery collapse of a wind power turbine in Clinton County last year, the state wants outside safety inspections before new wind farms can power up.

The decision Thursday by the state Public Service Commission affects wind turbines owned by Nobel Environmental Power, owner of the turbine that failed, as well as future wind farms proposed by any developer, commission spokesman James Denn said.

He likened the requirement to having a garage inspect and certify an automobile's safety before the vehicle can be allowed on the highway.

"We must make sure that those installing and operating wind turbines do so properly, and with all necessary safeguards in place," said Garry Brown, the commission chairman.

The March 2009 mishap at the 65-unit Noble Altona Windpark Noble was the first collapse of a wind turbine in the state.

"Such a requirement seems fine, as long as the state plans on doing it with other generation, like coal or gas plants, or say, off-shore oil rigs," said Carol Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, an Albany-based advocacy group for alternative renewable energy.

There are more than 800 wind turbines operating in the state, she added, and "as a whole, the industry have a very good track record."

A year-long investigation by the commission found faulty wiring installed in two Nobel towers, which had been running for about two months. The park produces electricity to serve about 32,500 homes.

The defect kept turbine blades from halting during high winds, according to the report. Unrestrained, the blades on one tower spun three times faster than designed before becoming loose and striking the tower, which collapsed and caught fire.

"We have not yet seen the commission's order or the report; consequently, at this stage, we cannot comment further," Nobel spokeswoman Maggy Wisniewski said.

Denn said Noble has 30 days to comply or explain why it should not have to.

After the incident, turbine maker General Electric created a diagnostic verification program to detect faulty wiring. That test found no other problems at the Altona farm; it will have to be run at the other 400 turbines that the company has in the state, Denn said.

Noble also operates wind parks in Bellmont, Franklin County; Chateaugay, Franklin County; and Clinton and Ellenburg, Clinton County as well as in seven other states. The company is privately owned and based in Essex, Conn.