Part XIII: Erie Community Schools is "Casting" Our Future to the Wind
by Mike Ryan
May 23, 2008
I would like to provide a brief update concerning the Erie turbine project. Much progress has been made at the new site since my last article. The foundation was poured on Monday, May 19th. I have taken new photos of all the work, including the pour, and they can be viewed in the power point photo section and in the archives section of these articles. The new photos do not do justice to the mass of rebar (74,000 lbs.) and concrete (250 yards) that go into this foundation structure. Yesterday, May 22nd, the inbed ring was set within the foundation frame. A concrete pour is scheduled for May 28th to incase the inbed ring "into" the foundation.
Upcoming (tentative) timelines following the inbed ring pour:
* The curing time of approximately twenty-eight (28) days will be initiated.
* The week of June 16th work on "preping" the tower sections will be initiated. Additionally, work on the two man electrical lift will begin. This lift will permit two people to go from the base of the tower to the middle of the nacell at approximately 230 feet.
* Erection (stacking) of the tower can be initiated the week of June 22nd. With favorable weather conditions the erection process takes normally five (5) days.
Projects of this type, as we are finding out, have many peeks and valleys. We have just passed the two (2) year anniversary date of the signing of the project contract. Although the wait has been long I still truly believe renewable wind energy will be a tremendous asset to Erie CUSD#1 and to other school districts, Junior Colleges and municipalities looking for energy independence.
I will be retiring as Superintendent of Erie Schools on June 30, 2008. I hope to provide more updates prior to my retirement date so please continue to look for new stories and photos.
WIND TURBINE WEB-SITE PICTURES
