Opposition to wind turbines and farms is likely to increase in the U.S. and worldwide until significant biological, environmental, and safety issues associated with them are eliminated (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), including fires.
From Wind-Watch:
Wind turbine disintegrates in Texas after a lightning strike
Credit: By Andrew Wulfeck, FOX Weather | New York Post | July 23, 2022 | nypost.com ~~
CROWELL, Texas – A North Texas wind farm is one turbine down thanks to what officials believe was a devastating lightning strike to one of the massive structures on Friday afternoon.
Videos from witnesses and firefighters showed the wind turbine generator ablaze and disintegrate in the sky over Crowell, Texas.
Doppler radar indicated there were plenty of lightning strikes around the Foard City wind facility before firefighters received the call about the high-altitude fire.
Crews with the Crowell Volunteer Fire Department responded, but Fire Chief Perry Shaw said there was little his firefighters could do to put the fire out.
“We’re not equipped to handle that kind of fire. Nobody in the area really is to speak of,” Shaw said.
The fire chief estimated there were 800 gallons of oil in the gearbox and around 1,300 gallons of mineral oil in the ground-level transformer, which caused the smoke to appear dark black in the sky.
The facility’s operator, Innergex Renewable Energy, said all personnel at the more than 31,000-acre complex are safe, and the fire only impacted one of its energy turbines.
Read more: Officials Believe Lightning Strike Destroyed Wind Turbine; “there was little his firefighters could do to put the fire out.”
