After a week where there was no precipitation, big rains Monday will slow construction this week on the Prairie Breeze Wind Energy farm.
Two inches of rain, in some places more, fell throughout the day Monday in Elgin, bringing construction of wind turbines to a halt.
Trucks delivering wind turbine parts stayed in the parking lot Monday at Elgin One Stop waiting for the weather system to pass so they could once again go to tower locations. With the heavy moisture, it could be the latter stages of this week before more towers can be erected.
James Williams, business development manager for Invenergy, said construction of the farm remains on schedule.
“We’ve got a terrific construction crew that is progressing well in its work,” he said Monday. “The project is coming along on schedule. The main focus currently is erection of the wind turbines, and as the weather patterns change there are days when the cranes cannot lift the components because the winds are too high.
“Obviously, the excellent wind resource is one of the key reasons Prairie Breeze is being constructed where it is! The windy days are built into the schedule, then, as an expected result of the changing seasons. We want to thank the local community for their continued support and understanding, especially as harvest is now in full swing.”
Estimated project completion is the first quarter of 2014, according to Alissa Krinsky, communications director with Invenergy who owns the wind farm. When operational, Prairie Breeze will generate, she said, enough clean renewable energy to power approximately 100,000 homes. Power produced by the wind farm will be sold to Omaha Public Power District as part of a long-term agreement signed months ago.
When completed, there will be 118 GE turbines. Of that number, Krinsky said 99 will be located in Antelope County, the remainder (19) will be located in Boone County.
On Monday, Krinsky provided a project work update:
• Bases completed — 51
• Towers completed — 39
• Number of totally complete towers & generators (with blades) — 18
• Construction has not yet begun on the operations & maintenance building, but will commence sometime in October.
• Transmission power line construction — Foundation installation, structure erection and conductor installation are underway with approximately 106 poles set. Completion is expected in December.
• Substation construction — Scheduled for completion by November.
• Estimated number of workers currently on-site — Approximately 200
