New technology will trim local wind farm from 55 turbines to 15

by Marianne Gasaway

Major changes are coming in February 2020 for the Cerro Gordo County Wind Farm south of Clear Lake.  NextEra Energy Resources LLC has announced that it will replace 55 turbines with 15 new ones which will generate the same amount of energy.

“Since building the Cerro Gordo Wind Energy Center in 1999 there have been significant enhancements in turbine technology,” stated Project Developer Mike Weich.  “We will be working to rebuild the wind energy center and generate the same amount of energy using far fewer wind turbines.  Expected maximum capacity of up to 40 megawatts will be produced by 15 new, state-of-the-art GE turbines.”

Currently, the wind farm occupies 2.4 acres on a site over 2,000 acres.  It produces enough energy to supply 20,000 homes and businesses in the area.  Each unit generates less than one megawatt of energy, is approximately 187-feet tall and sits on a 30 x 30 foot section of land.

The new turbines will stand 291-feet tall.

Weich said agreements are not finalized with landowners, who may no longer have a turbine on their property but may still remain participants in the project due to their location.  Thirteen landowners participate in the current wind farm project.

According to Weich, all of the components of the existing turbines have scrap value, with the exception of the fiberglass blades.  When the turbines are decommissioned crews will separate out the components and recycle the pieces within the region with whatever services might be capable of handling the volume.  The fiberglass blades will be transported to a recycler who is capable of reducing the fiberglass to pellet size, which can be used in new construction materials.

Underground wiring which is more than four-feet below the surface will be left in place, all other will be removed, say company officials. More than 10 miles of underground cables link the turbines and send the electricity to a electric sub-station.

Total project cost is estimated at

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while another walked from Garner to the park.  Marchers were asked to get “contracts” with sponsors pledging dollars for miles walked.

Newspaper accounts of that first march estimated 1,500 marches in 85-degree heat, raising approximately $12,000.

McCartney was just 13 when he participated in the Handicap Village Youth March.  He said his strong feelings about the experience prompted him to come back to Clear Lake to participate in the 50th anniversary of the event.

He said he remembers walking with hundreds on the hot spring day.  The experience of fellowship and working with others toward a common goal also stuck with him.

“I hadn’t been involved in anything like it before.  It was a great feeling.  And the cold water we got at the park never tasted so good,” he shared with those waiting to take part in Saturday’s event.

This year the walk followed a course beginning at City Park and looping the downtown.

John Severtson, former executive director of One Vision, then known as Opportunity Village, also participated in the walk along with his wife, Jana.  Severtson said although he did not participate in the first youth march, he remembers the event.  It was held the same weekend he introduced Jana to his family.  He remembers passing the walkers as they were returning to Luther College that afternoon.  The Severtsons eventually made Clear Lake their home in 1983 when John accepted the position of development director at the Village.  Since that time they have participated in the walk, they said.

Unlike the first year, the 2019 event also included foosball teams competing, online fundraising and a letter campaign to raise funds for One Vision.   This year all funds raised were directed to One Vision Employment Solutions.

One Vision Chief Development Officer Mike Mahaffey said approximately $1,900 is needed in charitable support to cover reimbursement shortfalls for each person One Vision helps find employment.

“These services truly connect people with purpose by providing individuals with disabilities a way to connect with their community and cultivate independence through employment,” he said.

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