Groton Wind Farm

NoBozo · 10-21-2012, 07:45 PM

RUSTY: I considered linking to the town website but knowing Don's aversion to OFF Lakes Region stuff I didn't link.

Here's what I posted on our local "Portsmouth Patch". Google "Patch".

"I just read the entire report as well. I Voted against the turbine. When I watched it being built I became a BIG supporter. Looking at the Balance Sheet in this report, one can only conclude THIS turbine is an albatross. This report makes the decision easy. I am really saddened to say this, but I think it's time to take the machinery down and put the remaining tower to some other use.

BTW: Fairhaven, MA just put up Two turbines just like ours this past spring."

NB

Rusty · 10-21-2012, 08:00 PM

NoBozo,

I think it's educational for the Lakes Region folks to know what problems other communities are having with windmills.
The more we learn about it, the more it will help us make a decision if a Lakes Region town wants to put up one similar to the RI one.

I hope Don allows you/us to keep the forum up to date with the Portsmouth, RI turbine problem.

BroadHopper · 10-22-2012, 04:05 PM

Google prior wind farms project in NH. All are failure and millions of dollars are lost. If I find the feds bankrolled this wind farm and the farm eventually failed, I would make sure there will be no more money pits in our hills.

tis · 10-22-2012, 06:46 PM

Wind is a great idea, solar is a great idea, as are other forms of newer energy. However, they are not perfected and if and until they are, we shouldn't be throwing money at them. With all the things that we can do, it seems we could use these or some other kind of energy. We are so cold in NH, it makes it harder than warmer climates to make alternative energy work.

Now wasn't that a brilliant statement? Nothing nobody doesn't know but just had to vent I guess.

Rusty · 10-22-2012, 07:50 PM

Having worked in the mechanical engineering field most of my life I have a tendency to enjoy reading technical documents like the "Gear Box Failure" of the Portsmouth, RI wind turbine. http://www.portsmouthri.com/document...ne_Gearbox.pdf

I would love to be in Germany when they Perform the forensic teardown of failed gearbox to narrow down root cause of failure.

The only ones that have failed in NH are buried at the foot of Crotched Mountain (and they were a big failure) so I guess no one will be writing anymore reports about them.

The other wind farms in NH haven't been running long enough to have failures (to my knowledge anyway) so we'll just have to wait and see.

BroadHopper · 10-30-2012, 04:03 PM

I took a ride up 93 to see a friend of mine off Tenney Mountain Highway. As soon as I crest wind sock hill past Ashland, I saw the windmills clear as day. WOW! It travels from one hill to the next, to the next! What a way to greet the tourists to the White Mountains!

As I was traveling the Tenney Mountain Highway, it is obvious of the Paul Bunyan size utility poles and wires. I can imagine a semi snapping one of those poles and the thousands of volts traveling through the wet ground. Its like a nightmare!

NoBozo · 11-05-2012, 09:04 PM

Probably only Rusty would be interested in this Video of the Portsmouth Town meeting where the consulting engineer presents his case..A replication of the report that Rusty linked to... BUT More detailed... This will be tedious...but informative to those with an engineering background.

Be prepared to spend over an hour.

NB

PS: I have had the opportunity to read an "unpublished" paper report...WELL beyond the report on the Portsmouth Website that Rusty linked to. I am impressed with the consulting engineer from Seattle.

http://www.theportsmouthrecord.com/T...3.12.Flash.htm

Rusty · 11-06-2012, 11:05 PM

Thanks NoBozo.

Everyone in the video seemed to be very calm considering the severity of the gear box problem/s.

Portsmouth, RI thought they bought a Cadillac and it turned out they got a Zastava Koral.

NoBozo · 11-07-2012, 02:33 PM

We have had an almost clean sweep of the 7 member town council....from Republican to Democrat. A previous Democrat town council voted to build the turbine. The 2 Democrats that were the minority on yesterdays council now have plenty of like minded company in todays council. They have been steadfast in their desire to repair the turbine for reasons one can only guess.

SO: I predict the turbine will be repaired...No Matter how much it costs every year to run. Dam the (Deficits) .....Full Speed Ahead. YUP

After all, it's GREEN and "the right thing to do".

NB

10-21-2012, 08:00 PM	#2
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	NoBozo, I think it's educational for the Lakes Region folks to know what problems other communities are having with windmills. The more we learn about it, the more it will help us make a decision if a Lakes Region town wants to put up one similar to the RI one. I hope Don allows you/us to keep the forum up to date with the Portsmouth, RI turbine problem. __________________ It's never crowded along the extra mile.

10-22-2012, 04:05 PM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,600 Thanks: 3,237 Thanked 1,113 Times in 799 Posts	You don't even need RI info Google prior wind farms project in NH. All are failure and millions of dollars are lost. If I find the feds bankrolled this wind farm and the farm eventually failed, I would make sure there will be no more money pits in our hills. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

10-22-2012, 07:50 PM	#5
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	Having worked in the mechanical engineering field most of my life I have a tendency to enjoy reading technical documents like the "Gear Box Failure" of the Portsmouth, RI wind turbine. http://www.portsmouthri.com/document...ne_Gearbox.pdf I would love to be in Germany when they Perform the forensic teardown of failed gearbox to narrow down root cause of failure. The only ones that have failed in NH are buried at the foot of Crotched Mountain (and they were a big failure) so I guess no one will be writing anymore reports about them. The other wind farms in NH haven't been running long enough to have failures (to my knowledge anyway) so we'll just have to wait and see. __________________ It's never crowded along the extra mile.

10-30-2012, 04:03 PM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,600 Thanks: 3,237 Thanked 1,113 Times in 799 Posts	Ride up 93 I took a ride up 93 to see a friend of mine off Tenney Mountain Highway. As soon as I crest wind sock hill past Ashland, I saw the windmills clear as day. WOW! It travels from one hill to the next, to the next! What a way to greet the tourists to the White Mountains! As I was traveling the Tenney Mountain Highway, it is obvious of the Paul Bunyan size utility poles and wires. I can imagine a semi snapping one of those poles and the thousands of volts traveling through the wet ground. Its like a nightmare! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

11-06-2012, 11:05 PM	#8
Rusty Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,028 Thanks: 603 Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts	Thanks NoBozo. Everyone in the video seemed to be very calm considering the severity of the gear box problem/s. Portsmouth, RI thought they bought a Cadillac and it turned out they got a Zastava Koral. __________________ It's never crowded along the extra mile.

10-21-2012, 07:45 PM	#1
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	RUSTY: I considered linking to the town website but knowing Don's aversion to OFF Lakes Region stuff I didn't link. Here's what I posted on our local "Portsmouth Patch". Google "Patch". "I just read the entire report as well. I Voted against the turbine. When I watched it being built I became a BIG supporter. Looking at the Balance Sheet in this report, one can only conclude THIS turbine is an albatross. This report makes the decision easy. I am really saddened to say this, but I think it's time to take the machinery down and put the remaining tower to some other use. BTW: Fairhaven, MA just put up Two turbines just like ours this past spring." NB

10-22-2012, 06:46 PM	#4
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,809 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,468 Times in 1,024 Posts	Wind is a great idea, solar is a great idea, as are other forms of newer energy. However, they are not perfected and if and until they are, we shouldn't be throwing money at them. With all the things that we can do, it seems we could use these or some other kind of energy. We are so cold in NH, it makes it harder than warmer climates to make alternative energy work. Now wasn't that a brilliant statement? Nothing nobody doesn't know but just had to vent I guess.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to tis For This Useful Post:
NoBozo (10-22-2012), Rusty (10-22-2012)

11-05-2012, 09:04 PM	#7
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Probably only Rusty would be interested in this Video of the Portsmouth Town meeting where the consulting engineer presents his case..A replication of the report that Rusty linked to... BUT More detailed... This will be tedious...but informative to those with an engineering background. Be prepared to spend over an hour. NB PS: I have had the opportunity to read an "unpublished" paper report...WELL beyond the report on the Portsmouth Website that Rusty linked to. I am impressed with the consulting engineer from Seattle. http://www.theportsmouthrecord.com/T...3.12.Flash.htm

The Following User Says Thank You to NoBozo For This Useful Post:
Rusty (11-05-2012)

11-07-2012, 02:33 PM	#9
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Politics Matter We have had an almost clean sweep of the 7 member town council....from Republican to Democrat. A previous Democrat town council voted to build the turbine. The 2 Democrats that were the minority on yesterdays council now have plenty of like minded company in todays council. They have been steadfast in their desire to repair the turbine for reasons one can only guess. SO: I predict the turbine will be repaired...No Matter how much it costs every year to run. Dam the (Deficits) .....Full Speed Ahead. YUP After all, it's GREEN and "the right thing to do". NB