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WINTER 2000
Looks Like a Million!
The Capture The Wind turbine broke the one million kwh of wind generated
energy mark on February 12, 2000. The turbine is performing very well,
despite lower than average wind speeds in 1999. The availability of the
turbine (the percent of time the turbine is available to produce
electricity) has improved as expected and has been over 99 percent for the
last two months of 1999.
The million kilowatt-hour mark is a milestone Moorhead
Public Service takes great pride in; but it is also something we want our
charter members to be proud of too. The success of the Capture The Wind
program is a result of the enthusiasm and support of more than 425
Moorhead Public Service customers like yourself.
As your community-owned electric and water utility,
Moorhead Public Service’s commitment to our customers is to provide them
with the finest services possible. It is our privilege to bring this
innovative idea of renewable energy to the businesses and residents of
Moorhead.
No Damage
No damage was done to the turbine during the storm, which passed through
Moorhead over the Fourth of July holiday weekend (1999). Winds over 90
miles per hour were recorded at the site, causing extensive damage to
three transmission line towers directly across the field from the turbine.
When these poles went down, a 115,000 volt transmission
line came in contact with the 12,470 volt distribution line that is
directly connected to the wind turbine transformer. This caused the
turbine to be backfed with 115,000 volts of electricity blowing fuses at
the turbine. The fuses did their job and protected the turbine and its
components from any damage.
When the turbine detects dangerously high wind speeds
(over 56 miles per hour) it automatically shuts down and turns itself 90
degrees to the wind direction. As long as the wind is over 40 miles per
hour, the turbine tracks the wind direction and stays 90 degrees to the
wind direction. When the wind speed drops below 40 miles per hour, the
turbine turns itself back into the direction the wind is blowing, releases
the brake, and begins to produce electricity again.
Your Famous!
An enormous amount of interest in the Capture The Wind program has
occurred over the past six months. Some of the places where information on
this program have been presented are:
An American Public Power Association National Conference
A Minnesota Municipal Utility Association State Conference
U.S. Senator Dorgan's Conference on Wind
The Environmental Journal's television and radio shows
In addition, the Capture The Wind program won the 1999
Environmental Initiative Award for renewable energy from the Minnesota
Environmental Initiative.
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