City wind turbine almost ready to go

Feb 24 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Thomas Content Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


The City of Milwaukee's wind turbine is now up and being prepared for connection to the power grid, after contractors completed the installation of the turbine's blades Wednesday.

Contractors working for Kettle View Renewable Energy in Random Lake erected the tower this week and attached the blades Wednesday.

Work that still remains includes electrical connections, testing and commissioning, said Matt Howard, the city's director of environmental sustainability.

The turbine is next to the Port of Milwaukee's administration building on S. Lincoln Memorial Drive.

"We're very pleased with the construction, we're happy that it's 100% made in the U.S. and that we've got Wisconsin manufacturers contributing parts to the turbine," Howard said.

Northern Power Systems of Vermont sold the turbine to Milwaukee and contracted with Bassett Mechanical of Kaukauna to build the 154-foot tower. Other state contractors contributed components as well.

The Milwaukee turbine is significantly larger than the small turbines on the grounds of Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin but less than half the size of utility-scale wind turbines that have been erected in Fond du Lac County and elsewhere around the state in recent years.

The turbine was funded through the economic stimulus package as well as the state Focus on Energy program and We Energies. The city's goal was to create a symbol for clean energy in the city as well as to offset the energy costs associated with the port headquarters building, Howard said.

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