Soil compaction may be causing turbine to lean

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TISKILWA -- The investigation continues into the leaning Crescent Ridge wind turbine in western Bureau County. On Tuesday, Crescent Ridge developer Stefan Noe said results will hopefully be back this week on the soil samples taken from around the northern most turbine at Crescent Ridge, a 33-turbine wind farm under construction in southwest Bureau County. "We're being very cautious about commissioning any of the turbines until we can determine what the problem is," Noe said. "We want to be very sure as to what happened. We have to figure out if this was a unique situation to the one turbine." Brian Roach, construction manager for Crescent Ridge, said there is no danger to the public with the leaning tower. The manufacturers of the equipment discovered the leaning on Dec. 12, while running through commissioning tests on the turbine. They turned off the turbine that night. Three different groups of engineers are working on finding a reason and a solution for the leaning turbine. "We won't run the turbines until we know what it is," Roach said Tuesday. Hopefully within 30 days, the problem will identified, a solution found and the problem fixed, Roach said. Noe said the leaning of the northern most turbine seems to be caused by a soil compaction issue at the turbine's foundation, meaning the soil surrounding the northern most turbine wasn't properly compacted, or firmly-packed. The developers will wait to get test results back to determine if the soil around the other turbines has to be tested. The developers have people working to brainstorm trouble-shooting solutions as needed. There has been no settling of the other turbines at this point, Noe said. "This can be corrected as far as we know right now," Noe said. "If we determine the problem is unique to the one turbine, then we might go ahead with commissioning of other turbines." Noe said he is aware of other wind farm projects in which the soil has settled after a turbine is constructed. It is not a unique situation to Crescent Ridge, he said. Construction of Crescent Ridge has not been without its problems. In addition to the leaning turbine problem, Noe said he is still waiting on some section parts of the turbines to be delivered. A rainy and windy December has also delayed construction. With the end-of-the year deadline passed, Noe said the pressure is not as high to get the wind farm built and operational. "My guess is within the next month or two, we'll have everything ready," Noe said. Fifteen of the 33 turbines are now standing. If things go well, crews can erect two turbines in a day, Roach said. The $60 million Crescent Ridge project is being built by Illinois Wind Energy, of which Noe is president, and Eurus Energy America.